This book presents an overview of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), their mechanisms of antimicrobial action, other activities, and various problems that must still be overcome regarding their clinical application. Divided into four major parts, the book begins with a general overview of AMPs (Part I), and subsequently discusses the various mechanisms of antimicrobial action and methods for researching them (Part 2). It then addresses a range of activities other than antimicrobial action, such as cell penetration, antisepsis, anticancer, and immunomodulatory activities (Part 3), and explores the prospects of clinical application from various standpoints such as the selective toxicity, design, and discovery of AMPs (Part 4). A huge number of AMPs have been discovered in plants, insects, and vertebrates including humans, and constitute host defense systems against invading pathogenic microorganisms. Consequently, many attempts have been made to utilize AMPs as antibiotics. AMPs could help to solve the urgent problem of drug-resistant bacteria, and are also promising with regard to sepsis and cancer therapy. Gathering a wealth of information, this book will be a bible for all those seeking to develop antibiotics, anti-sepsis, or anticancer agents based on AMPs.

Interventional Oncology is a fast-growing new field, as well as an emerging specialty. Many minimally-invasive, imaging-guided procedures seem set to replace more traditional open surgical techniques of treating solid tumors in a variety of organs. The aim of this book is to describe new interventional radiological methods in a succinct and practical form. Diagnostic radiological considerations relevant to the selection and follow-up of patients are also covered. The book begins with an overview of the basic principles of current interventional techniques, including thermal ablation, high intensity focused ultrasound, and embolization. Later chapters focus on tumors of the liver, kidney, lung, and bone, placing new interventional techniques in context by referring to the surgical and oncologic methods of treating the same conditions. With an emphasis on best practices, Interventional Oncology: A Practical Guide for the Interventional Radiologist will serve as a definitive guide to practicing physicians involved in this rapidly evolving field.

Advances in Cancer Research, Volume 139, provides invaluable information on the exciting and fast-moving field of cancer research. Original reviews are presented on a variety of topics relating to the rapidly developing intersection between nanotechnology and cancer research, with unique sections in the new release focusing on Exosomes as a theranostic for lung cancer, Nanotechnology and cancer immunotherapy, Ultrasound imaging agents and delivery systems, Dendronized systems for the delivery of chemotherapeutics, Thermosensitive liposomes for image-guided drug delivery, Supramolecular Chemistry in Tumor Analysis and Drug Delivery, Gold nanoparticles for delivery of cancer therapeutics, and Single cell barcode microchip for cancer research and therapy.

Get a quick, expert overview of the many key facets of lung cancer evaluation and management with this concise, practical resource by Drs. Lynn T. Tanoue and Frank Detterbeck. This easy-to-read reference presents a summary of today's best evidence-based approaches to diagnosis and management in this critical area.

Get a quick, expert overview of the latest clinical information and guidelines for cancer checkpoint inhibitors and their implications for specific types of cancers. This practical title by Drs. Fumito Ito and Marc Ernstoff synthesizes the most up-to-date research and clinical guidance available on immune checkpoint inhibitors and presents this information in a compact, easy-to-digest resource. It's an ideal concise reference for trainee and practicing medical oncologists, as well as those in research. Discusses the current understanding of how to best harness the immune system against different types of cancer at various stages. Helps you translate current research and literature into practical information for daily practice. Presents information logically organized by disease site. Covers tumor immunology and biology; toxicities associated with immune checkpoint inhibitors; and future outlooks. Consolidates today's available information on this timely topic into one convenient resource.

This issue of Hematology/Oncology Clinics, edited by Dr. Janet Abrahm, focuses on Pain Control. Topics include, but are not limited to, Complex pain assessment; Evidence-based non-pharmacologic therapies; Non-opioid pharmacologic therapies; Opioid caveats, newer agents, and prevention/management of side effects and of aberrant use; Cancer pain syndromes; Agents for neuropathic pain RX; Mechanism of and Adjuvants for bone pain; Interventional anesthetic methods; Radiation therapy methods; Rehabilitation methods; Psychological treatment; Spiritual considerations; Pain in patients with SS diseases; and Pain in HSCT patients.

Role of Nutraceuticals in Chemoresistance to Cancer, Volume Two, focuses on nutraceuticals, the compounds derived from natural sources, which are usually multi-targeted as a means to overcome chemoresistance. This book discusses the role of several compounds related to nutraceuticals and chemoresistance, such as curcumin, resveratrol, indole 3-carbinol, tocotrienols, ursolic acid, fisetin, celastrol, gambogic, butein, catechins and silymarin. It is a valuable resource for cancer researchers, oncologists and members of several areas of the biomedical field who are interested in understanding how to use nutraceuticals as a sensitizing agent for chemotherapy.

Lung cancer is the neoplastic disease with the highest mortality numbers in the world. The disease is very common in industrialized countries. This textbook synthesizes the basic science of lung cancer with state-of-the-art accounts of diagnosis and treatment. Written by a distinguished panel of experts from Europe, Asia, and North America, it covers all of the most important fields: biology, pathology, epidemiology, screening, diagnosis, therapy, supportive care, and prognosis. All physicians caring for patients with lung cancer, especially surgeons, chest physicians, radiation oncologists, and medical oncologists, will find a wealth of information that meets their needs. Whenever possible, the principles of evidence-based medicine are followed by providing data from systematic reviews, meta-analyses, methodology-based guidelines, and randomized clinical trials.

This volume explores the latest techniques used to study tumor immunology. The chapters in this book detail methodologies for functional analysis and expansion of T lymphocytes for cancer research. The chapters also cover topics such as how single-cell RNA-sequencing can be exploited to dissect immune cell heterogeneity and precursors; isolating and expanding natural killer (NK) cells; evaluating NK cell-mediated anti-tumor killing activity in vitro; immunosurveillance orchestrated by specific immune subsets; use of HLA peptidomics for cancer-exome based identification of tumor neo-antigens; gold standard assessment of immunogenic cell death in oncological mouse models and methods to look at the therapeutic relevance of immune modulation in cancer. 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, Cancer Immunosurveillance: Methods and Protocols is a valuable resource to aid researchers in better understanding and experimenting in this exciting and developing field.

This volume explores the role of proteases in various catalytic classes and cellular processes associated with cancer. The chapters in this book cover topics such as encoding proteolytic enzymes, cleavage sites of proteases, functional catalytic domains of MMPs, zymography, angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis, genetic and epigenetic alterations of metallopeptidases, and methods to target metalloproteinases. 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. Comprehensive and cutting edge, Proteases and Cancer: Methods and Protocols is a valuable resource for clinical researchers across numerous fields such as molecular and cellular biology, oncology, biochemistry, and chemistry. This book is also useful for PhD students in the various disciples of health sciences.

This thesis describes the authors' pioneering efforts in the conceptualization and implementation of combined platinum-based immuno-chemotherapeutics, which represent a significant paradigm shift from the conventional approach of directly targeting cancer. The work described has opened up a rich and largely unexplored area for platinum-based drug design, and ultimately paves the way for superior immuno-chemotherapeutics with better clinical outcome for patients. Historically, the contribution of the immune system to chemotherapy outcomes has been neglected, as anticancer drugs were believed to be immunosuppressive. However, this has been challenged by contemporary evidence suggesting that many chemotherapeutics, including platinum-based agents, stimulate the innate and/or adaptive immune system and that these "secret allies" contribute tangibly to clinical outcomes. A multi-pronged immuno-chemotherapeutic approach not only shrinks tumors, but more importantly, reactivate dormant immune responses to malignancies, eliminating residual cancer cells.

Over a period of almost 10 years, the work of the Project on Death in America (PDIA) played a formative role in the advancement of end of life care in the United States. The project concerned itself with adults and children, and with interests crossing boundaries between the clinical disciplines, the social sciences, arts and humanities. PDIA engaged with the problems of resources in poor communities and marginalized groups and settings, and it attempted to foster collaboration across a range of sectors and organizations. Authored by medical sociologist David Clark, whose research career has focused on mapping, archiving and analyzing the history and development of hospice, palliative care and related end of life issues, this book examines the broad, ambitious conception of PDIA - which sought to 'transform the culture of dying in America' - and assesses PDIA's contribution to the development of the palliative care field and to wider debates about end of life care within American society. Chapters consider key issues and topics tackled by PDIA grantees which include: explorations of the meanings of death in contemporary American culture; the varying experiences of care at the end of life (in different settings, among different social and ethnic groups); the innovations in service development and clinical practice that have occurred in the US in response to a growing awareness of and debate about end of life issues; the emerging evidence base for palliative and end of life care in the US; the maturation of a field of academic and clinical specialization; the policy and legal issues that have shaped development, including the ethical debate about assisted suicide and the Oregon experience; the opportunities and barriers that have been encountered; and the prospects for future development. A final chapter captures developments and milestones in the field since PDIA closed in 2003, and some of the challenges going forward.

Targeting Cell Survival Pathways to Enhance Response to Chemotherapy encompasses recently developed molecular targeting agents and approaches that suppress cell survival signaling. Cell survival signaling attenuates the effectiveness of conventional chemotherapy and numerous mechanisms have been described, and continue to be described, which contribute to cell survival in the face of chemotherapy treatment. Key pathways leading to chemoresistance emanate from growth factor receptors, PI3K, STAT3, anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family members, autophagy, and the DNA damage response pathway. New advances have underscored the potential of targeting each of these cell survival mechanisms to improve responsiveness to chemotherapy. This book reviews these recent advances and provides a foundational background and hints of new opportunities for basic, translational, and clinical investigators focused on improving therapeutic responses to chemotherapy.

Get a quick, expert overview of clinically-focused topics and guidelines that are relevant to testing for HER2, which contributes to approximately 25% of breast cancers today. This concise resource by Drs. Sara Hurvitz, and Kelly McCann consolidates today's available information on this growing topic into one convenient resource, making it an ideal, easy-to-digest reference for practicing and trainee oncologists. Covers the diagnosis, treatments and targeted therapies, and management of breast cancers that are HER2-positive. Contains sections on background and testing, advanced disease, therapeutics, and toxicity considerations. Includes a timely section on innovative future therapies.

This book discusses the main stem cell niches under distinct pathophysiological conditions. The role of tissue microenvironments in stem cell regulation, as well as modern methodologies and new techniques for the identification and characterization of stem cell niches, are discussed by leading experts in the field. Chapters describe the major components of various stem cell microenvironments, such as cellular components, soluble factors, cell-cell interactions, extra-cellular matrix proteins, and physical forces. Stem Cell Microenvironments and Beyond is part of the highly successful Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology series. It is essential reading for graduate students and researchers in the field of stem cells or cell biology as well as clinicians.

Get a quick, expert overview of the latest treatment and management approaches for adenocarcinoma of the lung, including novel therapeutics in immunotherapy and targeted therapies. This practical title, edited by Dr. Leora Horn, offers succinct coverage of clinically-focused topics and guidelines, making it an ideal resource for practicing and trainee oncologists and other members of the cancer care team. Discusses surgical approaches, molecular testing, adjuvant therapy, first- and second-line therapy, and much more. Helps you translate current research and literature into practical information for daily practice. Consolidates today's available information on this timely topic into one convenient resource.

Nitric Oxide as a Chemosensitizing Agent, Volume One is the first book to describe several reviews by authoritative scientists and clinicians on novel findings in the reversal of drug resistant cancers by the combination treatment of Nitric Oxide and sub toxic concentrations of chemotherapeutic drugs that have been reported in both in vitro, in vivo and preclinical models. The book describes the various underlying chemical, molecular and genetic mechanisms by which NO and NO reactive species mediate the anti-cancer activity, thus reducing the threshold of drug resistance and enabling chemo therapeutic drugs to induce their cytotoxic activity and reversal of resistance. This book exposes scientists and clinicians to this highly beneficial topic for research investigations and pharmaceutical companies to new avenues for R&D. It is a valuable resource for cancer researchers, oncologists and members of several areas of the biomedical field who are interested in understanding how to use Nitric Oxide as a sensitizing agent for chemotherapy.