Much work over the last two decades has firmly established that loss of cell cycle checkpoint regulation, and resultant unabated cellular proliferation, is an inherent characteristic of cancer. This loss may occur through aberration in any single component involved in signal transduction pathways that orchestrate checkpoint regulation, which may manifest through either a failure to activate the checkpoint or a failure to respond to the activated checkpoint. In normal cells, checkpoint pathways are activated when genetic or cellular homeostasis is compromised, and signals are then transduced to re-stabilize homeostasis, and, failing this, to activate the apoptotic machinery to induce a cellular suicidal response. This implies that both survival and cell death pathways are induced following checkpoint activation, and that the final decision is dependant on the net result of integrating the two sets of signals.

It is intriguing that checkpoint pathways are also critical in cancer therapy to provide an apoptotic stimulus when cellular damage induced by the therapeutic agent is detected by the sensor system. Therefore, it is not surprising that failure in pro-survival checkpoint response will render tumor cells hypersensitive to cytotoxics and, conversely, failure in pro-apoptotic checkpoint response will induce genetic instability and/or therapeutic resistance. Understanding the intricacies of checkpoint response is, therefore, central to the design of therapeutic regimen that will enhance antitumor effects. Although early versions of this design entail combination of cytotoxic agents with cell cycle or checkpoint inhibitors, a greater understanding of the concepts could make such combinations clinically more effective. The contributions in this book will consolidate the current state of knowledge on checkpoint responses that may lay the foundation for hypothesis-driven rational approaches in advancing the management of cancer.

The immediate attraction of the book to the scientific community is that it represents a timely opportunity to build upon existing concepts of checkpoints to expand our understanding of the inner workings of the critical checkpoint machinery. The present understanding has provided ample appreciation that response to checkpoint activation is manifested through coordinated inhibition of cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) complexes in G1, S and/or the G2 phase in order to arrest the cell cycle. Kinase inhibition can occur through several mechanisms, including inhibitory phosphorylation of CDK, destruction of the cognate cyclins, and recruitment of CDK inhibitors from the INK and WAF1/CIP1 families. However, the wealth of information from recent discoveries needs to be examined critically to consolidate our conceptual knowledge of checkpoints. At the same time, there is acute awareness in the diversity of checkpoint response between cytotoxic agents, and this serves as a reminder of the magnitude of complexity that is inherent in checkpoint regulation. This volume is intended to bring the cancer research community closer toward an improved understanding of this regulation, how checkpoint abnormalities can impact negatively on cancer therapy, and emerging strategies to target checkpoint response as a therapeutic end-point.

This book aims to bridge the gap in understanding how protein-tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs), which carry out the reverse reaction of tyrosine phosphorylation, feature in cancer cell biology. The expertly authored chapters will first review the general features of the PTP superfamily, including their overall structure and enzymological properties; use selected examples of individual PTP superfamily members, to illustrate emerging data on the role of PTPs in cancer; and will review the current status of PTP-based drug development efforts. Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases in Cancer,from renowned researchers Benjamin Neel and Nicholas Tonks, is invaluable reading for researchers in oncology, stem cell signaling,and biochemistry.

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.

Management of Penile Cancer provides a comprehensive and state-of-the-art overview of the major issues specific to the field of penile cancer. The sections of the book are structured to review the overall scope of issues of penile cancer, including diagnosis and staging, surgical approaches and the treatment of advanced disease. As multidisciplinary care is an integral part of the treatment of penile cancer, this book is unique in the inclusion of collaborating authors from a variety of integrated disciplines, including urology, radiation oncology, medical oncology and reconstructive surgery. Written by recognized experts in their field, Management of Penile Cancer is a unique and valuable resource in the field of penile cancer, both for those currently in training and for those already in clinical or research practice.

In this state-of-the-art exploration of a hugely dynamic and fast-evolving field of research, leading researchers share their collective wisdom on the role that stem cells could play in the context of physiological stress and lung injury. The text focuses on reviewing the most relevant-and recent-ideas on using local, endogenous, and exogenous progenitor/stem cells in preventing and treating injury to the lung. The lungs are one of the most complex organs in the human body, with a mature adult lung boasting at least 40 morphologically differentiated cell lineages. Our entire blood supply passes through the lung's alveolar units during oxygenation. This interaction with the outside world, along with the intricacies of its structure, makes the lung a highly susceptible organ that is vulnerable to numerous types of injury and infection. This means that the mechanisms of lung repair are in themselves correspondingly complex. Because of their multipotentiality, as well as the fact of the lung's relatively rapid cell turnover, stem cells are thought to be an important alternative cell-base therapy in lung injury. Despite the controversial nature of stem cell research, there has been growing interest in both local and endogenous stem cells in the lung. This highly topical book with chapters on everything from using mesenchymal stem cells in lung repair to the effect of physical activity on the mobilization of stem and progenitor cells, represents an exciting body of work by outstanding investigators and will be required reading for those with an interest in the subject.

Progress in the treatment of cancer over the past two decades has been rapid with many new and novel therapeutic modalities arriving at an unprecedented pace. Overall cancer mortality rates have actually begun to fall in parallel with progress in the diagnosis and treatment of malignant disease. Despite our advances in the understanding of the biology and molecular genetics of cancer, as well as the availability of an increasing array of effective therapies, cancer treatment today and for the foreseeable future will include the traditional modalities of surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Myelosuppressive agents with their potential hematopoietic toxicities remain the mainstay of systemic treatment for both metastatic and early stage cancer. The complications of cancer chemotherapy have serious impact on a patient's well being and overall quality of life. Fortunately, advances in cancer treatment have been accompanied by equally impressive progress in the availability of a wide array of supportive care modalities which have greatly enhanced the ability of oncologists to minimize the impact of cancer and its treatment on patient quality of life as well improve delivery of potentially curative cancer treatment. Despite the increasing complexity of modern cancer treatment, it is the obligation of the oncologist as well as the entire cancer care team to be certain that cancer patients receive the optimal supportive care available for their disease and its treatment. Among the most serious and potentially life threatening toxicities of cancer treatment are the hematologic toxicities accompanying myelosuppression including anemia and associated asthenia and fatigue, neutropenia and fever associated with infection in the immunocompromised patient and thrombocytopenia and accompanying risk of bleeding. Special supportive care needs arise in the very elderly care patient that may tax the ability of even the most skilled clinician. Despite the considerable progress that has been made with more effective and safer treatment strategies, myelosuppressive chemotherapy will remain the mainstay of systemic treatment for cancer for the foreseeable future. While considerable progress has occurred, better methods and broader application of supportive care measures are needed to reduce the symptomatic effects of cancer and the associated toxicities associated with cancer treatment. No area of cancer supportive care better illustrates the progress that has resulted from advances in our understanding of cellular and molecular biology, genetic engineering and the development of more effective yet often more toxic cancer treatments than that of the hematopoietic growth factors. This volume will review and integrate the major advances in our understanding of the underlying molecular biology and pharmacology of these agents along with the results of well designed and executed randomized controlled trials of the erythroid stimulating agents, the myeloid growth factors and the new thrombopoietic agents each addressing a major threat associated with bone marrow suppression accompanying cancer treatment. The current clinical utilization of these agents is based on numerous randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses along with evidence-based clinical practice guidelines developed by professional societies guiding their appropriate and cost-effective use in clinical care.

The increase in new medical technology and experimental treatments has made the study of medical ethics essential for practitioners on all levels. This book brings together experts in the fields of pediatric hemotology/oncology, ethics, and law to examine legal and ethical issues surrounding the treatment of children with cancer or blood disease. The contributors present thoughtful discussions of ethical considerations of such practices as bone marrow transplantation, caring for hemophiliacs, preventing sickle cell disease, informing patients of treatment side effects, the statistical design of clinical trials, and the activities of the Institutional Review Board.

The book will explain previously unconnected clinical data such as why mammography works better for women age 50-59 than it does for women age 40-49, why adjuvant chemotherapy works best for premenopausal patients with positive lymph nodes, and it may also explain the racial disparity in outcome. In particular, it points to the perioperative period when systemic inflammation persists for a week or so. This can lead to a variety of mechanisms whereby single cancer cells (perhaps from the marrow) begin division and angiogenesis of dormant avascular micrometastases occurs leading to early relapses. With chapters presented from distinguished scientists and physicians in a variety of specialties that relate to and border the effects we present, this volume can be used as a reference for practicing physicians and as a jumping-off point for researchers to explore new therapeutic opportunities.

This volume, which includes contributions from leading scientists and clinicians in the field, provides definitive, state-of-the-art information on STAT inhibitors in a biological and clinical context. It gives an overview of the biology of the STAT family of transcription factors and their role in cancer etiology. Additionally, it describes the raft of therapeutic approaches being used to inhibit STATs in the context of various cancers, covering the full spectrum of therapeutic approaches to inhibiting STATs, and presenting emerging data from clinical trials.

A comprehensive review of the recent developments in DNA repair that have potential for translational and clinical applications. The authors explain in detail the various mechanisms by which cancer cells can circumvent anticancer therapy and limits its usefulness in patients. They also review the clinical impact of such novel inhibitors of DNA repair mechanisms as methylguanine-DNA-methyltransferase. Also examined are inhibitors of other DNA repair enzymes such as PARP and DNA-PK, now under development and close to clinical trials. The book captures-for both cancer researchers and practicing oncologists dealing with hallmark "relapse" or "drug resistance" phenomena on a daily basis-the many exciting new uses of DNA repair inhibitors, either alone or in combination with anticancer therapies.

A comprehensive collection of classic and innovative methodologies used in many laboratories for the investigation of multiple myeloma. These readily reproducible techniques range from the standard Plasma Cell Labeling Index methodology to a final chapter on making sense of microarrays, and include the full spectrum of cytogenetic and molecular diagnostic methods. The protocols follow the successful Methods in Molecular Medicine (TM) series format, each offering step-by-step laboratory instructions, an introduction outlining the principle behind the technique, lists of the necessary equipment and reagents, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. These proven techniques are ideal for studying the pathogenesis of multiple myeloma and identifying new therapeutic targets.

As cells mature they naturally stop dividing and enter a period called senescence. But cellular senescence can also be induced prematurely by certain oncogenes involved in cancer development. Cellular senescence, a growth-arrest program that limits the lifespan of mammalian cells and prevents unlimited cell proliferation, is attracting considerable interest because of its links to tumor suppression.

This handbook provides a useful guide for the day-to-day management of people with breast cancer. It covers the journey from diagnosis to post-treatment comprehensive care. It explains when and why different treatment modalities are used, what the complications of both the disease and treatments are and how to manage them. Although this book has been written for students and health personnel working in a general hospital, it will be useful for those in specialist breast units as well. Dr Jenny Edge is a surgeon and head of Breast and Endocrine Surgery at the University of Stellenbosch. Dr Ines Buccimazza is head of the Breast Unit, member of the Multidisciplinary Breast Team and a senior specialist in the Department of Surgery at the Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in Durban.

Biological Basis of Geriatric Oncology highlights research issues that are specific to geriatric oncology in the field of carcinogenesis and cancer prevention and treatment, based on the biologic interactions of cancer and age. It illustrates the benefit of the principles of geriatrics in the management of cancer in the older individual.

This volume provides a frame of reference for practicioners of any specialties involved in the management of older patients and for oncologists involved in the management of cancer of older individuals. It is a source for basic and clinical scientists exploring the interactions and emerging information of cancer and aging.

This volume will explore the latest findings in research into the genetics of breast and reproductive cancers, covering the epidemiological aspects of these cancers, their etiology, the effect of environment on genes and cancer etiology, and how research in this area can lead to development of preventative measures and treatments.

Experts from around the world review the current field of the immunobiology of heat shock proteins, and provide a comprehensive account of how these molecules are spearheading efforts in the understanding of various pathways of the immune system. This one-stop resource contains numerous images to both help illustrate the research on heat shock proteins, and better clarify the field for the non-expert. Heat shock proteins (HSPs) were discovered in 1962 and were quickly recognized for their role in protecting cells from stress. Twenty years later, the immunogenicity of a select few HSPs was described, and for the past 30 years, these findings have been applied to numerous branches of immunology, including tumor immunology and immunosurveillance, immunotherapy, etiology of autoimmunity, immunotherapy of infectious diseases, and expression of innate receptors. While HSPs can be used to manipulate immune responses by exogenous administration, they appear to be involved in initiation of de novo immune responses to cancer and likely in the maintenance of immune homeostasis.

This volume explores the epigenetic alterations and their association with various human cancers. Considering one of human cancer as an example, individual chapters are focused on defining the role of epigenetic regulators and underlying mechanisms in cancer growth and progression. Epigenetic alteration including DNA methylation, histone modification, nucleosome positioning and non-coding RNAs expression are involved in a complex network of regulating expression of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes and constitute an important event of the multistep process of carcinogenesis. Recent advances in the understanding of the epigenetic regulation and detailed information of these epigenetic changes in various cancers provide new avenues of advancements in diagnostics, prognostics, and therapies of this highly fatal disease.

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), caused by mutational inactivation of the "NF1" tumour suppressor gene, is one of the most common dominantly inherited human disorders, affecting 1 in 3000 individuals worldwide. This book presents in concise fashion, but as comprehensively as possible, our current state of knowledge on the molecular genetics, molecular biology and cellular biology of this tumour predisposition syndrome.

Written by internationally recognized experts in the field, the 44 chapters that constitute this edited volume provide the reader with a broad overview of the clinical features of the disease, the structure and expression of the "NF1" gene, its germ line and somatic mutational spectra and genotype-phenotype relationships, the structure and function of its protein product (neurofibromin), NF1 modifying loci, the molecular pathology of NF1-associated tumours, animal models of the disease, psycho-social aspects and future prospects for therapeutic treatment.

Immunohistochemistry is the use of specific antibodies to stain particular molecular species in situ. This technique has allowed the identification of many more cell types than could be visualized by classical histology, particularly in the immune system and among the scattered hormone-secreting cells of the endocrine system, and has the potential to improve diagnosis, prognosis and therapeutic options of cancer.
This book discusses all aspects of immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization technologies and the important role they play in reaching a cancer diagnosis. It provides step-by-step instructions on the methods of additional molecular technologies such as DNA microarrays, and microdissection, along with the benefits and limitations of each method. The topics of region-specific gene expression, its role in cancer development and the techniques that assist in the understanding of the molecular basis of disease are relevant and necessary in science today.
This book is the second volume of three planned, individually-sold volumes on this topic. Like Volume 1, this book fully explains the principles and applications of modern techniques used in the field of molecular genetics. It will be of particular interest to pathologists and molecular pathologists conducting both academic and/or clinical research.
* The only book available that translates molecular genetics into cancer diagnosis
* The results of each Immunohistochemical and in situ hybridization method are presented in the form of color illustrations
* Methods discussed were either developed or refined by expert contributors in their own laboratories

A collection of both well-established and cutting-edge methods for investigating breast cancer biology not only in the laboratory, but also in clinical settings. These readily reproducible techniques solve a variety of problems, ranging from how to collect, store, and prepare human breast tumor samples for analysis, to analyzing cells in vivo and in vitro. Additional chapters address the technology of handling biopsies, new methods for analyzing genes and gene expression, markers of clinical outcome and progress, analysis of tumor-derived proteins and antigens, validating targets, and investigating the biology of newly discovered genes.

This book contextualizes translational research and provides an up to date progress report on therapies that are currently being targeted in lung cancer. It is now well established that there is tremendous heterogeneity among cancer cells both at the inter- and intra-tumoral level. Further, a growing body of work highlights the importance of targeted therapies and personalized medicine in treating cancer patients. In contrast to conventional therapies that are typically administered to the average patient regardless of the patient's genotype, targeted therapies are tailored to patients with specific traits. Nonetheless, such genetic changes can be disease-specific and/or target specific; thus, the book addresses these issues manifested in the somatically acquired genetic changes of the targeted gene. Each chapter is written by a leading medical oncologist who specializes in thoracic oncology and is devoted to a particular target in a specific indication. Contributors provide an in-depth review of the literature covering the mechanisms underlying signaling, potential cross talk between the target and downstream signaling, and potential emergence of drug resistance.

This book discusses the emergence of a new class of genes with a specific anticancer activity. These genes, recently defined as "Anticancer Genes", are reviewed in individual chapters on their mode of action, the specific cell death signals they induce, and the status of attempts to translate them into clinical application. Anticancer Genes provides an overview of this nascent field, its genesis, current state, and prospect. It discusses how Anticancer Genes might lead to the identification of a repertoire of signaling pathways directed against cellular alterations that are specific for tumor cells. With contributions from experts worldwide, Anticancer Genes is an essential guide to this dynamic topic for researchers and students in cancer research, molecular medicine, pharmacology and toxicology and genetics as well as clinicians and clinical researchers interested in the therapeutic potential of this exciting new field.