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Nature 441, 423 (25 May 2006) | doi:10.1038/441423a; Published online 24 May 2006

Introduction Signalling in cancer

Alex Eccleston1 & Ritu Dhand2

The past 30 years have led from the discovery of the first cancer-causing gene, or 'oncogene', to the emergence of a new generation of cancer therapies — those targeted at specific signalling molecules.The signalling pathways controlling cell growth and differentiation are almost invariably altered in cancer.