This book concisely reviews our current understanding of hypoxia, molecular targeting, DNA repair, cancer stem cells, and tumor pathophysiology, while also discussing novel strategies for putting these findings into practice in daily clinical routine. Radiotherapy is an important part of modern multimodal cancer treatment, and the past several years have witnessed not only substantial improvements in radiation techniques and the use of new beam qualities, but also major strides in our understanding of molecular tumor biology and tumor radiation response. Against this backdrop, the book highlights recent efforts to identify reasonable and clinically applicable biomarkers using broad-spectrum tissue microarrays and high-throughput systems biology approaches like genomics and epigenomics. In particular, it describes in detail how such molecular information is now being exploited for diagnostic imaging and imaging throughout treatment using the example of positron emission tomography. By discussing all these issues in the context of modern radiation oncology, the book provides a broad, up-to-date overview of the molecular aspects of radiation oncology that will hopefully foster its further optimization.

This monograph, written by well renowned breast cancer expect, Dr. Jose Russo, provides new insight on the pathobiology of breast cancer from the most current advances in the field, translational research, initiation and progression of the disease, the mechanism of invasion and metastasis and the concept of stem cells in treatment and drug resistance. The role of personalized medicine and genomic testing are also explored, which will provide a window to the future progress of cancer care.

In the post human-genome project era, cancer specific genomic maps are redesigning tumor taxonomy by evolving from histopathology to molecular pathology. The success of a cancer drug today is fundamentally based on the success in identifying target genes that control beneficial pathways. The overwhelming power of genomics and proteomics has enlightened researchers about the fact that the PI3K-mTOR pathway is the most commonly up-regulated signal transduction pathway in various cancers, either by virtue of its activation downstream of many cell surface growth factor receptors or by virtue of its collateral and compensatory circuitry with RAS-MAPK pathway. Oncogenic signaling in the majority of solid tumors is sustained via the PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway. Because of its prominent role in many cancer types, the PI3K-mTOR pathway has become a major therapeutic target. The volume includes two complementary parts which address the problem of etiology and disease progression and is intended to portray the very basic mechanisms of the PI3K-AKT-mTOR signaling pathway's involvement in various facets of the cancer, including stem cell renewal, cell metabolism, angiogenesis, genetic instability, and drug resistance. Significant progress has been made in recent years elucidating the molecular mechanism of cancer cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and drug-resistance in relation to the PI3K-mTOR pathway and this volume provides an in-depth overview of recent developments made in this area.

This book provides readers an extensive overview of recent progress in basic and clinical research on cancer immunotherapy. Thanks to rapid advances in molecular biology and immunology, it has become increasingly evident that cancer growth is influenced by host immune responses. With the success of a number of clinical trials, immunotherapy has become a promising treatment modality of cancer. This book covers five major topics, including monoclonal antibodies, biological response modifiers, cancer vaccines, adoptive cellular therapy and oncolytic viruses. It also examines the combination of different immune strategies as well as the combination of immunotherapy with other treatments to increase anti-tumor effects. Through the comprehensive discussion of the topic, the book sheds valuable new light on the treatment of tumors.

Presenting topics from the basic application of molecular genetics to more complex gene expression analysis using different models of study, this detailed volume explores asthma through the lens of genetics, considered to play an essential role in the etiopathogenesis of the disease. Since asthma is a complex disease, this book is designed to provide a review of the most useful techniques with examples of their applications in specific laboratory protocols. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and practical, Molecular Genetics of Asthma serves as an ideal guide to researchers investigating this vital field of study.

This volume provides readers with a wide collection of the latest and readily reproducible technical protocols available in the field of non-viral gene delivery vectors. The chapters in this book are organized into three major parts: Part I is a section on conventional bolus gene delivery vectors that introduces typical transfection approaches relying on the addition of transfectants to the cell culture medium where the cells are grown in; Part II covers stimuli-responsive bolus transfectants and topics on gene delivery complexes made of smart polymers or stimuli-responsive polymers that change according to the environment they are in and delivered by dripping into cells; Part III discusses examples of substrate-mediated gene delivery-also termed reverse transfection-and the immobilization of a gene delivery vector onto a surface as opposed to more typical bolus delivery from the medium. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Cutting-edge and practical, Non-Viral Gene Delivery Vectors: Methods and Protocols is written for experimentalists, and is an essential part of many laboratory bookshelves. This book will help novice and professionals alike succeed in their research in this field.

This volume provides current methods and protocols for gene and protein delivery based on both lentivirus-generated and spontaneously released nanovesicles. Lentiviral Vectors and Exosomes as Gene and Protein Delivery Tools guides readers through methods on macromolecule delivery and chapters describe the LV-based protocols of gene engineering. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and cutting-edge, Lentiviral Vectors and Exosomes as Gene and Protein Delivery Tools aims to ensure successful results in the further study of this vital field.

This volume provides a thorough overview of the Wilms' Tumour Gene (WT1). The book begins with three review chapters that cover the involvement of WT1 in pediatric cancer, kidney disease, and tissue development and homeostasis. The next few chapters discuss cell marking and lineage tracing, epicardial cell methodology, colony forming assays for bone marrow stem cells, angiogenesis assays and zebrafish tools. The next group of chapters explores the latest tools in genomics, molecular biology, and biochemistry. They discuss dissecting transcription factor function in cell free systems, ChiP seq, proteomics, RNA interactome, and multiphoton imaging of lipids, measuring the binding constants of protein-nucleic acid interactions, and bioinformatics approaches for analyzing Next Generation Sequence data. The final chapter discusses protocols for clinical trials for immune therapy using anti-WT1 peptides. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Practical and thorough, The Wilms' Tumour (WT1) Gene: Methods and Protocols is a valuable resource for anyone who is interested in the diverse methodologies used in WT1 research.

This volume covers the topics presented at the 3rd International Conference on Tumor Microenvironment and Cellular Stress by an international community of researchers. The conference brings together scientists to discuss different cellular and animal models of tumor microenvironment study and identify common pathways that are candidates for therapeutic intervention; stimulate collaboration between groups that are more focused on elucidation of biochemical aspects of stress biology (e.g., HIF regulation) and groups that study the pathophysiological aspects of stress pathways or engaged in drug discovery; and critically evaluate novel targets for imaging or therapeutic intervention that would be of use to the tumor microenvironment community and pharmaceutical industry.

This volume, with contributions from the most recognized experts in preventive strategies in breast cancer, presents the accepted as well as the novel ideas that have been introduced for the prevention of breast cancer. There is no single preventive agent that can stop the incidence of breast cancer-the malignant disease most frequently diagnosed in women of all races and nationalities. Furthermore, its incidence around the globe is increasing in industrialized countries. The worldwide incidence of breast cancer has increased 30-40% since the 1970s, reaching an excess of 1,390,000 new cases and a mortality of more than 460,000 cases in 2015. Therefore, what is needed is the development of rational strategies for the prevention of this fatal disease.

Ribonucleic acid (RNA) binding proteins currently number in the thousands and defects in their function are at the heart of diseases such as cancer and neurodegeneration. RNA binding proteins have become implicated in the intricate control of surprisingly diverse biological settings, such as circadian rhythm, stem cell self-renewal, oncogenesis and germ cell development. This book surveys a range of genome-wide and systems approaches to studying RNA binding proteins, the importance of RNA binding proteins in development, cancer and circadian rhythm.

The fascinating area of Nutrigenomics describes this daily communication between diet, food and nutrients, their metabolites and our genome. This book describes how nutrition shapes human evolution and demonstrates its consequences for our susceptibility to diseases, such as diabetes and atherosclerosis. Inappropriate diet can yield stress for our cells, tissues and organs and then it is often associated with low-grade chronic inflammation. Overnutrition paired with physical inactivity leads to overweight and obesity and results in increased burden for a body that originally was adapted for a life in the savannas of East Africa. Therefore, this textbook does not discuss a theoretical topic in science, but it talks about real life, and our life-long "chat" with diet. We are all food consumers, thus each of us is concerned by the topic of this book and should be aware of its mechanisms. The purpose of this book is to provide an overview on the principles of nutrigenomics and their relation to health or disease. We are not aiming to compete with more comprehensive textbooks on molecular nutrition, evolutionary biology, genomics, gene regulation or metabolic diseases, but rather will focus on the essentials and will combine, in a compact form, elements from different disciplines. In order to facilitate the latter, we favor a high figure-to-text ratio following the rule "a picture tells more than thousand words". The content of this book is based on the lecture course "Nutrigenomics", which is held since 2003 once per year by Prof. Carlberg at the University of Eastern Finland in Kuopio. The book is subdivided into three sections and twelve chapters. Following the "Introduction" there are sections on the "Molecular genetic basis" and the "Links to disease", which take a view on nutrigenomics from the perspective of molecular mechanisms or from the causes of metabolic diseases, respectively. Besides its value as a textbook, Nutrigenomics will be a usefull reference for individuals working in biomedicine.

The book focuses on the understanding of molecular pathways by which normal cell progress to the definable stage of cancer. The chapters explore microbiota and chronic inflammation, multiple myeloma chemoprevention, microRNAs, cancer regulation, liquid biopsies, and angiogenesis. Recent advances of molecular risk assessment, tumor microenvironment, microneoplasia, malignant gene expressions are highlighted to provide a means and design of future cancer prevention strategies and challenges thereupon. The volume also explores various receptor drugs that are in development process with the emphasis of inhibitors used to prevent malignant gene expression. The book bridges the gap between basic science and clinical application of current knowledge of cancer and emphasizes that tumor progression and cancer metastasis are not random - treatments and cure are logical and eventual. Expertly authored and drawing from a wealth of international perspectives, Molecular Targets and Strategies in Cancer Prevention is invaluable reading for clinicians and researchers in the fields of oncology and molecular biology.

Medicinal chemistry is both science and art. The science of medicinal chemistry offers mankind one of its best hopes for improving the quality of life. The art of medicinal chemistry continues to challenge its practitioners with the need for both intuition and experience to discover new drugs. Hence sharing the experience of drug research is uniquely beneficial to the field of medicinal chemistry. Drug research requires interdisciplinary team-work at the interface between chemistry, biology and medicine. Therefore, the topic-related series Topics in Medicinal Chemistry covers all relevant aspects of drug research, e.g. pathobiochemistry of diseases, identification and validation of (emerging) drug targets, structural biology, drugability of targets, drug design approaches, chemogenomics, synthetic chemistry including combinatorial methods, bioorganic chemistry, natural compounds, high-throughput screening, pharmacological in vitro and in vivo investigations, drug-receptor interactions on the molecular level, structure-activity relationships, drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, elimination, toxicology and pharmacogenomics. In general, special volumes are edited by well known guest editors.

This book discusses the molecular, biological, pathological, and clinical aspects of melanoma, with special emphasis in the new concepts of melanoma genetics. A multidisciplinary group of experts in Genetics, Dermatology, Pathology, and Melanoma Medical Oncology contribute state-of-the-art knowledge in melanoma research and clinical management, not only exposing the current status of knowledge of the topics but also providing their personal experiences and ideas about the future and potential practical application of the genetic aspects of melanoma. During the last few years we have witnessed an impressive amount of discoveries in the field of melanoma genetics which have changed our approach in understanding the pathogenesis and treatment of this lethal disease. Genetics of Melanoma is a practical approach to melanoma genetic mechanisms and their application in the diagnosis and treatment of this malignancy. It is an essential source of updated information and a powerful tool for clinicians, pathologists, and basic scientists who wish to understand, apply, and investigate the multiple new aspects of melanoma genetics.

This volume presents a series of protocols and methods, some of which are not widely used by researchers/practitioners, and will aid in the execution of different laboratory techniques. Forensic DNA Typing Protocols, Second Edition is arranged into a series of related chapters. Chapter 1-3 examines two different aspects of RNA analysis for body fluid identification. Chapters 4-7 focuses on the storage of biological materials and the extraction of DNA from hard tissues. Chapters 8-10 present methods for monitoring the quality of DNA extracts, and steps to aid in the purification of DNA. Chapters 11-16 talk about methods on non-standard markers, such as INDELs, Y chromosome STRs, and mitochondrial DNA. Detailed procedures and data analysis for phenotypes and ancestry are explored in Chapter 17-19. The last chapter (20) looks at the application of DNA typing to the identification of non-human material to species level. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Practical and thorough, Forensic DNA Typing Protocols, Second Edition, is a valuable resource for forensic specialists, researchers, and anyone interested in the field of forensic science.

This volume provides a comprehensive collection of classical and cutting edge protocols and techniques to examine the normal development and physiological functions of the gastrointestinal system and to model the most common digestive diseases. The chapters focus on diverse research topics including ex vivo systems to study gastrointestinal development and functions, in vivo imaging of the gastrointestinal tract, isolation and characterization of intestinal immune cells, and animal models of gastrointestinal inflammation and cancer. The Gastrointestinal Physiology and Diseases: Methods and Protocols book targets wide audience of physiologists, cell and developmental biologists, immunologists, and physician-scientists working in the field of gastroenterology and beyond. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Highly practical and clearly written, Gastrointestinal Physiology and Diseases: Methods and Protocols will serve both seasoned researchers as well as newcomers to the field and will provide a unique resource and expert guidance to modern laboratory techniques developed for examining normal functions and diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

This second edition expands upon the previous volume with new and updated chapters. Auditory and Vestibular Research: Methods and Protocols, Second Edition guides readers through protocols on cell culture, tissue engineering, nanotechnology, high-throughput screening, and physiology. Chapters on physiology cover techniques that include optical coherence tomography, patch clamping, and photostimulation of caged neurotransmitters. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and cutting-edge, Auditory and Vestibular Research: Methods and Protocols, Second Edition aims to ensure successful results in the further study of this vital field.

This volume presents detailed laboratory protocols for in vitro synthesis of mRNA with favorable properties, its introduction into cells by a variety of techniques, and the measurement of physiological and clinical consequences such as protein replacement and cancer immunotherapy. Synthetic techniques are described for structural features in mRNA that provide investigational tools such as fluorescence emission, click chemistry, photo-chemical crosslinking, and that produce mRNA with increased stability in the cell, increased translational efficiency, and reduced activation of the innate immune response. Protocols are described for clinical applications such as large-scale transfection of dendritic cells, production of GMP-grade mRNA, redirecting T cell specificity, and use of molecular adjuvants for RNA vaccines. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Synthetic mRNA: Production, Introduction into Cells, and Physiological Consequences is a valuable and cutting-edge resource for both laboratory investigators and clinicians interested in this powerful and rapidly evolving technology.

This volume details a valuable collection of protocols and reviews, such as emerging experimental and theoretical approaches. These approaches have resulted in a substantial improvement in the understanding of chromosome architecture. Chromosome Architecture: Methods and Protocols guides readers through cutting-edge interdisciplinary methods which allow for an understanding of architecture of chromosomes with exceptionally enhanced resolution, both in terms of space and time. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and cutting-edge, Chromosome Architecture: Methods and Protocols aims to ensure successful results in the further study of this vital field.

The aim of this volume is to present current methodologies to predict and understand the pathogenesis of Type-1 Diabetes for clinical and non-clinical researchers. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and key tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Practical and reliable, Type-1 Diabetes: Methods and Protocols will aid researchers in using these methods to advance their own studies.

This volume presents a collection of computational and experimental protocols pertaining to the creation, characterization, and utilization of RNA nanostructures. The chapters in this book cover topics such as ion effects in RNA folding; design and crystallography of self-assembling RNA nanostructures; x-aptamer selection and validation; RNAi in HIV-infected cells; and preparation of a conditional RNA switch. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Cutting-edge and thorough, RNA Nanostructures: Methods and Protocols is a valuable resource for the design and production of RNA nanostructures. Researchers and scientists sharing these detailed protocols is important for sustained progress in the field.

This books aims to provide an up-to-date guide to using recombinases in the laboratory. Chapters guide the reader through construction of transgenic animals, recombinase-mediated cassette exchange (RMCE), spatial control of recombinase expression and in vivo delivery approaches, immunohistochemistry and fluorescence-based phenotyping methods, biochemical methods, and recombinase-based production of minimal DNA vectors. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and cutting-edge, Site-Specific Recombinases: Methods and Protocols aims to serve as a valuable resource for working with recombinases, and inspires further creativity in the field.

The annual meeting of the European Tissue Culture ., Society was held at the Castle of Zinkovy in Czechoslovakia from May 7-10,1969. Included as part of this meeting was a symposium on "Aging in Cell and Tissue Culture." This volume contains the papers presented at that symposium. The use of cell and tissue culture techniques to study the mechanism of aging is not new. For example, it has long been known that age-associated changes which occur in plasma can inhibit cell proliferation in vitro; also that the time lapse prior to cell migration from ex planted tissue fragments increases with increasing age. These are both examples of the expression in vitro of aging in vivo. More recently, attention has been focused on the occurrence of senescence in vitro. These investi gations have included studies of alterations in non dividing cell cultures, and to a somewhat greater extent, of age-related changes in the proliferative capacity of cells in vitro. For example, cells derived from human fetal lung retain many properties of normal cells including a stable normal diploid karyotype and these cultures have been shown to have a limited life-span in vitro. In addi tion, cultures derived from human adult lung show the same normal characteristics and appear to have a shorter life span than cells derived from fetal lung."

This volume expands on statistical analysis of genomic data by discussing cross-cutting groundwork material, public data repositories, common applications, and representative tools for operating on genomic data. Statistical Genomics: Methods and Protocols is divided into four sections. The first section discusses overview material and resources that can be applied across topics mentioned throughout the book. The second section covers prominent public repositories for genomic data. The third section presents several different biological applications of statistical genomics, and the fourth section highlights software tools that can be used to facilitate ad-hoc analysis and data integration. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, step-by-step, readily reproducible analysis protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Through and practical, Statistical Genomics: Methods and Protocols, explores a range of both applications and tools and is ideal for anyone interested in the statistical analysis of genomic data.