Having been a fairly dormant specialty for many decades, in recent years there has been a remarkable increase in activity in Neuro-oncology from basic science through to the clinics. Reflecting this there have been considerable advancements in the understanding of the biology of CNS malignancies which have infirmed the development of many novel and successful therapies. This work aims to bring together the scattered literature on the new concepts in neuro-oncology for the benefit of those in the field. The book moves from concepts in the scientific basis of neuro-oncology, through to modelling techniques and finishing on the translation into clinical practice.

This book provides a comprehensive and up-to-date review of the relationship between obesity and cancer. It opens with a global perspective on obesity and cancer incidence, followed by in-depth discussions of those cancers for which we have sufficient evidence of a causal relationship with obesity. It addresses topics such as the effects of obesity on cancer incidence and cancer survival, the effects of weight gain and weight loss in adulthood on cancer risk, the effects of childhood and adolescent obesity, and the role of body fat distribution in cancer risk. Individual chapters discuss potential pathways for the observed associations and explore possible mechanisms from both an epidemiological and an experimental perspective. It concludes with a population perspective on the cancer risk that is attributable to obesity and is thus potentially avoidable. This book is of particular value to researchers and epidemiologists and is also of interest to public health workers and clinicians.

approaches to the experimental problems that still face us in understanding this most fascinating of organs. Too many people contributed to the completion of this volume to allow acknowledg ment of all the individual efforts, but we particularly thank the reviewers whose input into the editorial process was invaluable and the authors of these chapters who revised their text, sometimes more than once, to bring it to the high standards set by the Editors. The Com mittee gratefully acknowledges the support ofVysis, Inc. , in the publication of a color figure in Chapter 19, by S. Weber-Hall and Trevor Dale. Finally, we wish to express our heartfelt appreciation to Margot Ip and Bonnie Asch, who worked long and hard to bring this volume to fruition. Margaret C. Neville for the Committee on Mammary Gland Biology Preface One of the most exciting and beneficial developments in research on mammary gland biology and breast cancer has been the influx of increased funding to support this work. This influx, which has been due primarily to the tireless efforts of breast cancer activists to gamer addi tional money from various federal and state sources, has led to a rapid expansion of research efforts by attracting numerous new investigators into the field. These new investigators include students, postdoctoral fellows, and scientists from other fields.

Electroporation is the forefront in tumor ablation. This book presents the basic principles and clinical applications of electroporation, including the latest research results and patient data. A comprehensive approach to the basic science behind the development of this ground-breaking technique and its introduction into clinical practice, the book discusses the entire spectrum of currently available reversible treatments, the emerging irreversible applications, and their impact on patient care. Clinical Aspects of Electroporation is the first book intended for clinicians on this extremely important and rapidly developing field.

Rectal Cancer: International Perspectives on Multimodality Management is a timely analysis of the diagnosis, staging, pathology, and therapy of cancer of the rectum. This book is intended as a useful resource for physicians, scientists, medical students, and allied health personnel in the disciplines of radiology, gastroenterology, surgical oncology, medical onc- ogy, radiation oncology, and pathology. Renowned contributors from different medical d- ciplines have written their chapters in a thoughtful, provocative, and visual fashion. Importantly, these chapters highlight the controversies in the diagnostic, staging, and the- peutic management of patients with rectal cancer while providing practical management recommendations. This book is divided into 18 chapters. Early chapters address the diagnosis and staging of rectal cancer, highlighting the critical role of contemporary imaging in guiding treatment. The remaining chapters focus on the multimodality management of rectal cancer from the vantage points of surgery, pathology, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. The major dev- opments in surgery are reviewed first, including contemporary roles of local excision, total mesorectal excision, lateral pelvic lymph node dissection, organ preservation approaches, as well as the management of advanced, recurrent, and metastatic disease. Following is a ch- ter describing the pathologic evaluation of rectal cancer specimens, with emphasis on proper methodology and its clinical relevance to overall disease management. The final chapters review the contemporary roles of chemotherapy (including with radiation therapy, adjuvant and neoadjuvant settings without radiation therapy, as well as in metastatic disease) as well as radiation therapy (including adjuvant and neoadjuvant approaches, short vs.

The thoroughly updated and revised third edition of Management of Prostate Cancer provides concise and authoritative guidance to today's best therapeutic regimens for the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer. Highlighting the latest major advances in the field, the book includes chapters on the most controversial areas of prostate cancer - screening, chemoprevention, and active surveillance; updated chapters on genetic risk and progression, biopsy schemes, treatment of complications, and comparative treatment outcomes for surgery; and new chapters on risk factors, new markers, nomograms, and focal therapy. This volume also features overviews of new and emerging drugs and treatment paradigms for castrate resistant disease, advances that promise to extend life and perhaps even cure a subset of men with metastatic disease. With its comprehensive illustrations and contributions from renowned experts in the field, Management of Prostate Cancer, 3rd Edition is an invaluable resource for practitioners in the treatment of prostate cancer.

This book provides clinical practitioners and the research community with detailed information on the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, taking into account the significant growth in knowledge including multiple therapeutic advances that have been achieved over the past 5-10 years. The work is subdivided into epidemiology, pathogenesis, pathology, imaging, and therapy of the non-Hodgkin lymphomas. The full range of therapeutic options are examined according to the major subtypes of non-Hodgkin lymphoma and the most up-to-date information is provided on current standard treatment options, including stem cell transplantation as well as new cutting-edge therapeutics.

Myelodysplastic syndromes are to the bone marrow what pneumonia is to the lungs; the response of an organ to a variety of etiologic insults like aging, toxic exposure, infections and auto-immunity. Among infectious causes alone, pneumonia could be the result of a variety of possible pathogens including bacterial, viral, tuberculous or fungal agents. Similarly, MDS cannot be treated as a single disease. Attempts to harness the inherent complexity of MDS by devising classifications' which group the various syndromes as one disease is as misguided as saying that a pneumonia is not infectious because it did not respond to antibiotics. Progress in the field will occur faster when we re-analyze this premise. Therefore, until a clearer picture of the disease emerges it is best to treat each of the MDS syndromes as a separate entity. Having no classification is better than a misleading one. Cancer research has been notable for its periodic cycles of promise and hope, followed by defeat and disappointments. It is not that there is no solution, but that the problem has not been identified precisely. This book is our attempt to define the most crucial questions related to MDS that need to be addressed immediately through logic, analysis and rigorous experimentation. If the emerging problems appear daunting, then instead of being overwhelmed by them, we should follow the advice of the great 20th century thinker Antonio Gramsci, pessimism of the intellect must be faced with the optimism of will'.

Although there are numerous technical-scientific books on breast cancer in the global bibliography, such books deal exclusively with the nature of the disease in majority populations of the Western societies, with little or no reference to the nature of the disease in the minority populations in such societies. Similarly, the nature of breast cancer in black women of the less privileged societies, and in women of ethnic groups living in countries of similar socio-economic status, is virtually unknown. For various epidemiological reasons, breast cancer incidence is rapidly increasing in these counties, more so than currently is the case in developed countries. Thus, the global burden of cancer is shifting gradually to these areas of the world, and may equal or even surpass the breast cancer burden in the Western societies within the foreseeable future. This book is unique because it bucks the trend of virtually all other breast cancer books by addressing specifically the breast cancer experience of women of African descent and their lifestyle counterparts in other societies of the world.

This volume documents this unique family of cell surface proteins. Despite masquerading as intractable and difficult to clone and characterize, ENOX proteins have and continue to offer remarkable opportunities for research, commercial development and outside confirmation of therapeutic, diagnostic and new paradigms to help explain complex biological processes.

Recently the CXCR4/CXCL12-axis has been recognized as one of the pivotal adhesion pathways by which hematopoietic stem cells are retained in the bone marrow. CXCR4 antagonists with different chemical specification are being developed. Pharmacology research guides the way to the rational development effective antagonists. One antagonist, plerixafor, is clinically approved now for stem cell mobilization of lymphoma and myeloma patients. This allows patients to receive potentially life-saving treatment which could not have been administered otherwise. Through early clinical studies it was recognized that CXCR4 antagonists also mobilize malignant hematopoetic cells, i.e. leukemia cells. In preclinical studies a sensitization of mobilized leukemic cells to standard cytotoxic chemotherapy could be shown. Clinical studies are under way. CXCR4 antagonists are an exciting new class of compounds which are also employed for the mobilization of angiogenic cells or for the treatment of solid tumors. In this book a concise review of the current status of knowledge and future developments will be presented.

This book provides a concise, yet comprehensive overview of the many facets relating to human health risk assessments in relation to chemical exposure problems. It presents some very important tools and methodologies that can be used to address chemical exposure and public health risk management problems in a consistent, efficient, and cost-effective manner. On the whole, the book represents a collection and synthesis of the principal elements of the risk assessment process that may be used to more effectively address issues pertaining to human exposures to chemicals found in modern societies. This also includes an elaboration of pertinent risk assessment concepts and techniques/methodologies for performing human health risk assessments. Written for both the novice and the experienced, the subject matter of this book is an attempt at offering a simplified and systematic presentation of public health risk assessment methods and application tools - all these facilitated by a layout that will carefully navigate the user through the major processes involved. A number of illustrative example problems are interspersed throughout the book, in order to help present the book in an easy-to-follow, pragmatic manner.

Chromosomes Today, Volume 13 includes the plenary lectures presented at the 13th International Chromosome Conference, covering the most recent advances in the studies on chromosomes. The contributions in this volume were presented by some of the world's leaders in cytogenetic and molecular research and outline the present status of knowledge on the composition, structure, function and evolution of chromosomes, including, among others, the advancement of the human genome project. The use of cytogenetic studies has greatly increased in the last few years, resulting in a progressive improvement in the available methods that has consequently allowed a more detailed analysis of the molecular organization of eukaryotic chromosomes and a precise in situ localisation of specific gene sequences. This volume of Chromosomes Today provides up-to-date information regarding the topics at the forefront of chromosome research: genetic regulation, imprinting, DNA duplication, meiotic pairing, and the regulation of the...

Tumour-Associated Macrophages are of interest to the cancer research community, and this book is among the first to discuss a definitive theory on the role of macrophage in tumour development. It includes research and intensive discussion of Ik-B and NF-kB.

This book covers the molecular and cellular aspects of cancer metastasis, and discusses the clinical aspect of micro- and macro-metastases, which result in the death of the majority of patients with cancer. The current edition attempts to examine the current status of the basic scientific and clinical research in the area, and is a very useful reference for clinicians, oncologists, and biologists. It is intended for undergraduates as well as postgraduates in the area of medicine, oncology, and cancer biology.

Leading experts survey the currently available technologies designed to improve the delivery of today's cancer chemotherapeutic agents. The authors review both the theoretical and practical considerations governing conventional and nonconventional methods of drug administration, and identify promising opportunities for product development. In their outline and discussion of the use of novel formulation technologies-including synthetic polymers and biomaterials for prolonged or sustained drug release to achieve potentially greater therapeutic effect-they profile those technologies that have resulted in a number of approved and late-stage clinical products.

This practical collection examines methodologies originating from the benefits of genome-wide approaches to studying epigenetics, which has opened the emerging field of epigenomics. Focusing on the areas of cancer, inflammatory and autoimmune disorders, chapters discuss three main components of the epigenome and their role in the regulation of gene expression and present a detailed method section specific to studying each component, including data analyses, troubleshooting, and feasibility in different experimental settings. The main topics are high-throughput and targeted methods for DNA methylation analysis, nucleosome position mapping, studying epigenetic effects of gut microbiota, optical imaging for detection of epigenetic aberrations in living cells, methods for microRNA, and histone code profiling. Written for the Methods in Pharmacology and Toxicology series, the book includes the kind of detail and implementation advice to encourage success in the lab. Authoritative and easily applicable, Epigenetics and Gene Expression in Cancer, Inflammatory and Immune Diseases aims to provide pharmacologists, molecular biologists, bioinformaticians, and toxicologists with a vital background on epigenetics and state-of-the-art techniques in epigenomics.

Malignant mesothelioma is an aggressive and fatal neoplasm of serous membranes that still shows a rising incidence worldwide. This book covers all the important aspects of the disease by bringing together contributions from selected experts in the fields of epidemiology, imaging, pathological diagnosis, therapy, genetics, and screening. Special emphasis is placed on the latest diagnostic techniques and current therapy standards. In addition, the mineralogy of asbestos is reviewed and clear advice is included on the analysis of tissue mineral fiber content. By providing a compact, scientifically based, and up-to-date overview of the management of malignant mesothelioma, this volume will be invaluable for all clinicians and pathologists who are engaged in the diagnosis and treatment of the disease or in related research.

Invasive bladder tumors affect the muscle wall, and have a propensity to metastasize and spread to other areas of the body, and are more likely to be fatal. This book presents state-of-the-art diagnoses and treatments available for bladder cancer that has metastasised into the body. A thorough review of current practice is presented in a full color volume with more than 40 tables and 50 illustrations. The book offers a comprehensive review of the subject, covering epidemiology, screening, diagnostic factors, surgery, chemotherapy and post-operative monitoring. Most chapters are jointly written by a basic researcher and a clinician.

It has been over a decade since the First International Symposium on Hormonal Carcinogenesis convened in 199 1. Since then, the field has rapidly expanded with considerable progress in both breast and prostate cancers; while ovarian and endometrial cancer have been hampered, in part, due to the absence of suitable hormone-mediated animal models. While knock-out, transgenic, and cell-culture systems have been extremely useful in identifying specific genelprotein alterations and the ensuing pathways affected, the precise molecular mechanisms whereby sex hormones elicit their oncogenic effects still remain elusive. Moreover, despite the considerable progress made in breast cancer research, the exact role of progestins in the presence or absence of estrogen in breast growth, differentiation, and malignant transformation is lacking. Elucidating the incipient molecular alterations in earlylpre-invasive lesions elicited by these hormones is a growing important focus of this field. The main purpose of these Symposia has been to address vital questions that impact our understanding of the causation, dependency, progression, resistance, and prevention of hormonally-associated cancers. We are indebted to the Scientific Advisory Board members who worked with us reviewing and offering suggestions to finalize the scientific program. We offer special thanks for the guidance and support of Dr. Gerald Mueller. His wisdom played an indispensable role in maintaining the excellence of these Symposia. We also acknowledge the numerous external reviewers that worked diligently to revise and improve the quality of the manuscripts. We are very grateful to Ms. Tandria Price.

Our work began where the greatest classical morphologists left off; their best work was the start of ours. As our work progressed, the rigidity of basic, previous embryological principles was broken down as scientific knowledge advanced. At the same time, the molecular, biological characterization of the cell surface receptor systems progressed enormously with the invention of numerous monoclonal antibodies. Thus, thymology became once again very important because the thymus is the first and central organ of the human immunological system. Then, the question of immuno-neuroendocrine regulation arose and has only been partially answered. Our book seeks to explore what has not been explored. The topic of thymic epithelial cells is a unique one and has never been explored in any previous book as it is explored in this one.

Only a handful of great thymologists remain in the world today, especially after the great loss the medical community suffered with the passing of Dr. Good, the list includes but is not limited to: Dr. Ritter and Dr. Kendall in England, Dr. Savino in Brazil, Dr. Dardenne in France, Dr. von Gaudecker in Germany, a few others in Belgium and Holland, and it is our hope that Dr. Bodey is among them. Nonetheless, a book on the thymus has not been written in the last five years and a book such as this one has never been. This book is based on a 30-year period of research and includes references from a broad range of sources spanning the globe and all sources, even those that were the beginning of thymic research. The book, thus, is uniquely well rounded, more so that previous works.

This thesis focuses on the synthesis and vaccine evaluation of the prostate tumor- associated carbohydrate antigen RM2. The author first presents the use of the [1+2+3] one-pot sequential strategy to successfully synthesise the RM2 antigen and its analogues as single stereoisomers in every glycosylation step, producing good yields and stereoselectivity. He then introduces the conjugation of the synthetic RM2 antigen to the carrier protein CRM197 in an average number of 1-10 to create the prostate cancer vaccine candidate, which is combined with -galactosylceramide C1, its analogue C34, or Alu. The results of the vaccination studies in mice are also described and indicate that the strongest anti-RM2 antigen titer is exhibited when one molecule of diphtheria toxin (DT) is conjugated with an average of 4.7 molecules of RM2 antigen (DT-RM4.7) and adjuvanted with the glycolipid C34. More importantly, the induced mouse antibodies mediate the effective complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) against the prostate cancer cell line LNCap. The study presented in this thesis is the first ever to successfully synthesize this complex glycan molecule. Owing to the steric hindrance of the adjacent sialyl moiety, the introduction of two sialic acid units to the compact and rigid 3,4 di branched galactoside unit is very challenging and the -selective and efficient glycosylation of the galactosamine moiety at the 4-position of di branched galactose is also problematic.

The tiny microRNAs (miRNAs) can have huge impacts on the regulation of a variety of genes and play crucial roles in the fundamental cellular processes. Recent miRNA studies change the landscape of cancer genetics by scrutinizing the alterations of genome-wide miRNA expressions in most common cancers and their regulatory functions during the development of cancer. The connections between miRNAs and cancer are widespread enough to warrant more comprehensive investigations in the systems biology perspective. In MicroRNA and Cancer: Methods and Protocols, internationally renowned experts provide the latest miRNA knowledge, the various techniques and methodologies currently available for cancer research application. Ranging from the fundamental concepts to practical applications, this book presents: * Overview of microRNA biogenesis, computational prediction of new miRNAs in the cancer genome, and miRNA-based therapeutic approaches for cancer treatment * Detailed experimental protocols in miRNA detection with novel and high-throughput technology, miRNA library cloning, miRNA epigenetic regulation, and miRNA pathway study * Stepwise computational and bioinformatic procedures for miRNA complex networks in cancer genomes with a variety of softwares and programs * Cross-cited notes on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls Authoritative and cutting-edge, MicroRNA and Cancer: Methods and Protocols serves researchers with the basic principles of experimental and computational methods for microRNA study in cancer research and provides a firm grounding for those who wish to further develop their own applications and tailor them to their own specific research needs.