GENES CHROMOSOMES AND MALIGNANCY

There are several hundred papers and scholarly books on these subjects of Genes, Chromosomes and several biochemical parameters related to Cancer mechanisms ever since the great German cytologist / embryologist in the late 19th and early 20th centuries Th. Boveri emphatically demonstrated the affiliation of chromosomes with malignancies (Cancer growth). This small book is an attempt only to emphasize that the most dreaded disease or rather collection of complications exhibiting as Cancer must be looked as a present, past and future pathological problem. Though this is not essential that a cancer patient may have history in the family but this is absolutely essential to search for possible susceptibility among some of the closely related individuals. Studies on after effects of chemicals, carcinogens and external environmental influences like sudden and severe exposure to radiations or chemical industrial hazards have been studied extensively and we have learnt that “incidence of cancer” is a multidisciplinary complex disease more dependent on extent to which DNA/ chromatin/ chromosomes have been damaged, along with, also on “individualized immunogenetic responses” . A regular smoker may not, but simply an inhaler of smoke may install malignancy quite unknowingly. Truly though, 95% smokers/ tobacco consumers are prone to develop malignant features. We have learnt this fact through epidemiological approaches on Monozygotic co-twin control studies assisted with population cytogenetic studies in various human population samples. Population surveys and chromosome studies must not stop. This is desirable to re-stablish such schools of thought which in earlier days use to make population cytogenetic studies and in many reputed hospitals, there were specific clinics to investigate on chromosomal features. Leading centres have identified lot many biochemical and chromosomal parameters which can serve as early warnings. Early detection and prevention is possible which would be in larger interest!!