For the past decade or so, research regarding women's health has become a major source of concern among health professionals. Due to the vast amounts of research, it has been difficult to amass a comprehensive source describing the challenges of physicians in this area of medical treatment and care. The Handbook of Research on Oncological and Endoscopical Dilemmas in Modern Gynecological Clinical Practice is a pivotal reference source that provides vital research on the application of clinical practices in regards to the health of women and prevention of severe, life-threatening diseases. While highlighting topics such as mental health, women's health, and preventative care, this publication provides an insight into critical dilemmas and issues in modern gynecologic oncology and endoscopy as well as the methods of daily clinical practice. This book is ideally designed for obstetricians, gynecologists, specialized physicians, medical professionals, academicians, researchers, and medical students.

Experimental chemotherapy continues to be at the forefront of cancer thera- peutics. Topics covered in the preceding volume on cancer chemotherapy in this series such as study of drugs by alkaline elution, the development of the antimetabolite tiazofurin, and the treatment of germ cell tumors have become informative references to current experimentalists and practitioners. In even earlier volumes, reviews of the platinum compounds, anthracyclines, and osteosarcoma represent topics associated with such rapid progress requiring a look back to provide the appropriate perspective. Similarly, we venture to predict that the topics in this volume will become useful landmarks for future drug development and disease strategies. In the area of drug development, what is being learned about old, estab- lished antineoplastics is raising renewed expectations that it will be translated into improved applications and patient benefit. For example, we now have the ability to modulate the action of alkylating agents and fluorinated pyri- midines to achieve greater sensitivity. A new compound for an old target, trimetrexate, an antifolate that does not polyglutaminate, will have a role not only in treatment of neoplastic diseases, but also protozoal infection.

The success rate for treatment of primary neoplasms has improved sig nificantly due to improved surgical, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy methods, and by supportive patient care. In contrast, the treatment of cancer metastases, the cause of most cancer deaths, has not been very successful. Approximately 50% or more of patients with primary malignant neoplasms already have established metastases. Consequently, the most important problem in cancer treatment is the destruction or prevention of metastases. Metastases research has obvious clinical importance. Yet it has only been recently that investigators have attempted to study the mechanisms in volved in this process. This is in part due to the complexity of metastases formation. A metastatic colony is the result of a complicated series of steps involving mUltiple tumor host interactions. It is expected that multiple biochemical factors and gene products derived both from the host and the tumor cell may be required for the metastasizing tumor cell to invade, survive host defenses, travel in the circulation, arrest and adhere in the target organ, invade out, and grow as a metastatic colony. Some of these factors have recently been identified by investigators who have focused on individual steps in the metastatic process and have employed new technologies in immunology, biochemistry and molecular biology. The purpose of this volume is to capture some of the excitement in the field of metastases based on such new discoveries."

Cancer care is undergoing a radical transformation as novel technologies are directed toward new treatments and personalized medicine. The most dramatic advances in the treatment of cancer have come from therapeutics that augment the immune response to tumors. The immune checkpoint inhibitors are the best-known and most highly advanced examples of Immune Therapeutics targeting tumor cells and include approved antibody drugs directed at the cell surface proteins CTLA4 and PD-1. These are now considered foundational treatments for several solid tumor indications, and that list of indications is growing quickly. More broadly, antibodies have become workhorse molecules across the entire immunotherapy landscape. Antibodies to novel targets modulate the activity of diverse immune cell regulatory proteins. Engineered antibodies can induce tumor cell death or expose tumor cells to poisonous toxins (ADCC and ADC, respectively). Bi-specific antibodies can engage multiple tumor targets simultaneously, or can redirect lymphocytes to attack tumor cells. The antigen-binding domains within antibodies can be spliced onto cell stimulatory domains and transduced into T cells or NK cells, creating remarkable tumor-specific cellular therapeutics (CAR-T, CAR-NK). Beyond antibody-based therapies there are highly diverse and differentiated technology tool kits being applied to immunotherapy. Small molecule drugs are being developed to attack the tumor microenvironment, novel tumor vaccine approaches are showing great promise, patient lymphocytes are being isolated, expanded and reintroduced to patients, gene-editing techniques are becoming widely deployed, and a vast number of new tumor targets, and mutated tumor proteins (neoantigens), are being discovered. The past decade has seen unprecedented success in the treatment of diverse cancers. The authors of this volume have been asked to not only review progress to date, but importantly, to look ahead, and anticipate the evolution of cancer treatment across diverse Immune Therapeutic approaches. Our hypothesis is that the advances we are seeing across the immunotherapy landscape will further evolve and synergize, leading us finally to outright cures for many cancers.

Since the first concepts of gene therapy were formulated, the hemopoietic system has been considered the most natural first target tissue for genetic manipulation. The reasons for this include the fact that a very large number of inherited disorders (including some of the most common disorders, such as the hemoglobinopathies) are disorders of the hemopoietic system, and the large amount of experience in hematopoietic transplantation biology. The consequence of this resulted in the first clinical trial of gene therapy in 1989, where two children suffering from severe combined immune deficiency (ADA-SCID) were transplanted with T-cells express ing adenosine deaminase (the defective enzyme in patients with this disorder). The partial success of this treatment was perhaps responsible for undue optimism among those proposing other gene therapy treatments within the hematopoietic system, and it has since become clear that there are a number of technical and biological difficulties to overcome before hematopoietic gene therapy becomes a mainstream therapeutic strategy. The chapters in this book evaluate the need for gene therapy in the hematopoietic system, discuss how efficient gene transfer and expression can be achieved in the target cells, highlight areas of difficulty to be addressed, and examine a number of potential applications of the gene therapy approach. The book begins with a chapter by Testa and colleagues, discussing the various sources of hematopoietic cells for both transplantation and gene therapy."

Over the past two decades, there has been a tremendous increase in our understa- ing of ubiquitination and proteasome degradation. As the editors, we thank Springer Publishing for allowing us to organize this collection of reviews on the ubiquit- proteasome system, oncogenesis, and cancer therapy. We asked our colleagues, who are experts in the field, to provide an overview of their research and recent progress. Each chapter covers a broad range of topics that include defects in ubiquitination identified in specific tumors to new directions to treat cancer. In the Introduction, Rati Verma gives the background of our current understanding of the proteasome. A general overview of ubiquitin ligases and cancer is provided by Angelika Burger and Arun Seth. Patricia McChesney and Gary Kupfer discuss the role of the Fanconi anemia/BRCA1 pathways in breast cancer and potential targets for therapy. Defects in the tumor suppressor, von Hippel-Lindau E3 ligase, and the role of this protein complex are discussed by William Kim and William Kaelin. Kyung-bo Kim and colleagues describe the development of novel proteasome inhibitors to treat cancer patients. Progress in our understanding of deubiquitinating enzymes is summarized by Massimo Loda and his colleagues. Finally, Agustin Rodriguez-Gonzalez and Kathleen Sakamoto discuss an approach to recruit cancer-causing proteins to ub- uitin ligases through a chimeric molecule known as protacs.

Great advances were made in the pharmacologic-based treatment of cancer in prior decades. However, despite a marked increase in our understanding ofcell and molecular mechanisms underlying the neoplastic process, therapy for advanced disease remains limited. While the reasons for this are many, it is generally accepted that advanced neoplasms contain a relatively large number of genetic and molecularalterations contributingto the maintenanceofthe neoplastic process. Such a situation precludes easy pharmacologic intervention. However, our ability to detect cancer at an earlier stage, coupled with our increased understandingofcarcinogenesis, are propellingboth basic and clinical scientiststo pursue early intervention/chemopreventive approaches. This is based upon the notion that fewer molecularaberrations are presentearlyon inthedisease process. It also takes advantage ofthe fact that advances in both technology, and in the field ofcancer biology, coupled with a heightened vigilance, have increased our ability to detect early disease more readily. The chemopreventive approach is highly attractive for a number ofreasons. First, treatment ofpre-neoplastic, or early neoplastic, lesions would prevent the significant mobility and mortality associated with advanced neoplastic disorders.

Leading cancer researchers update and review the mechanisms of action and the therapeutic selectivity and efficacy of 5-FU with and without leucovorin and its prodrugs in the treatment of colorectal cancer. Among the combination agents considered are UFT/LV, 5-FU/EU, capecitabine (Xeloda), S-1, and a variety of thymidylate synthase inhibitors. The authors discuss the potential advantages and disadvantages of these varied drugs and their mode of administration. Based on historical results with these agents when used alone, they also present a rationale for their results when used in combination with other agents.

In recent years excellent progress has been the study of these disorders in the future. made in the development of improved Recently freeze fracture techniques have cytochemical and ultrastructural tech- also been employed in the study of normal niques for electron microscopy in hematol- and leukemic lymphocytes and much new ogy and in particular in leukemia and information concerning leukemic cell lymphoma. Subtypes of these disorders, membranes may be obtained from the use which are essentially classified according to of this technique in the future. cell phenotype and the degree of matura- The purpose of this book is to demon- tion, can be well defined today using a strate the utility of these techniques in combination of immunological methods, defining leukemic cell types and to illus- light microscopy, cytochemistry, and elec- trate the potential of some of the newer tron microscopy. Ultrastructural cyto- ultrastructural methods, including trans- chemistry is now utilized routinely in mission and scanning immuno electron leukemia in most major centers today and microscopy, SEM cytochemistry, and can also be performed using scanning elec- freeze fracture techniques, in the study of tron microscopy (SEM), as described in leukemia. Advances in cytochemical tech- this book. Immuno electron microscopy niques and their use in the definition of used with or without simultaneous ultra- nonlymphoid cells and in the classification structural cytochemistry can also be em- of lymphoid subtypes are clearly demon- ployed in the accurate classification of strated in this book.

Chemokines and Cancer synthesizes a state-of-the-art understanding of the role that chemokines and their receptors play in the pathophysiology of malignancy. It examines the influence of chemokines on a broad array of malignant cells, including their effects on such intrinsic properties as growth and movement, as well as exploring their influence on the host's response to a growing tumor. The authors also demonstrate the physiological consequences of chemokine expression and suggest how chemokines can be used to regulate tumor growth in vivo, including their direct effects on tumor growth, on tumor destruction by host inflammatory cells, and on tumor angiogenesis. The only book available that relates chemokines to cancer, Chemokines and Cancer holds out the promise of novel therapeutic approaches to malignancy through the manipulation of chemokines and/or their receptors.

This volume is intended to present an eclectic selection of informative reviews on aspects of the malignant lymphomas, including Hodgkin's disease. The choice of suitable review topics in this field is made hazardous by several facts. First, the growth of insight into basic mechanisms of lymphomagenesis is explosive, as is the expansion of our understanding of the need for precise morphologic classification of these diseases. Second, new therapeutic agents, cytotoxic and biologic, as well as new drug delivery strategies, are appearing with remarkable frequency. Finally, old "standard" approaches, such as the staging laparotomy for Hodgkin's disease, are being reconsidered and deserve attention in an up-to-date collection of papers. The 10 reviews presented here fall generally into three categories. First, the optimal diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to Hodgkin's disease are considered by Mark Leibenhaut, who reviews the status of the diagnostic staging laparotomy, and by Philip Bierman, who discusses his thoughts on the timing of high-dose treatment with bone marrow transplantation for this disease. There follow four reviews of current management of specific histologic subtypes of malignant lymphoma. First, Velasquez reviews prognostic factors in both intermediate and high grade lymphomas. Miller and Dahlberg review and update the Southwest Oncology Group experience in developing curative cytotoxic combination therapies for diffuse large-cell lymphomas. Lastly, optimal therapy for two kinds of high grade lymphoma are presented. Butler and Hainsworth describe the Vanderbilt experience with diffuse small noncleaved cell lymphoma and Picozzi reviews lymphoblastic lymphoma.

Where do you begin to look for a recent, authoritative article on the diagnosis or management of a particular malignancy? The few general oncology textbooks are generally out of date. Single papers in specialized journals are informative but seldom comprehensive; these are more often preliminary reports on a very limited number of patients. Certain general journals frequently publish good in depth reviews of cancer topics, and published symposium lectures are often the best overviews available. Unfortunately, these reviews and supplements appear sporadically, and the reader can never be sure when a topic of special interest will be covered. Cancer Treatment and Research is a series of authoritative volumes which aim to meet this need. It is an attempt to establish a critical mass of oncology literature covering virtually all oncology topics, revised frequently to keep the coverage up to date, easily available on a single library shelf or by a single personal subscription. We have approached the problem in the following fashion. First, by dividing the oncology literature into specific subdivisions such as lung cancer, geni tourinary cancer, pediatric oncology, etc. Second, by asking eminent authorities in each of these areas to edit a volume on the specific topic on an annual or biannual basis. Each topic and tumor type is covered in a volume appearing frequently and predictably, discussing current diagnosis, staging, markers, all forms of treatment modalities, basic biology, and more."

In the approach to the analysis of disease, including, of course, cancer, two major thrusts may be distinguished. These may be referred to, in shorthand, as agents and processes: the causative agents (chemical, microbial, physical, environmental, and psychosocial) and the organismic processes, initiated and furthered by the agents, culminating in observable pathology (at the macromolecular, cytological, histological, organ function, locomotor, and behavioral levels). The past 25 years, since the appearance of the first volume of the predecessor series (1) authored by the Editors of this present volume, have seen an impressive number of studies on chemicals (and other agents) as etiologic factors in the induction of cancer. The major emphasis has been on the discovery of many chemical carcinogens of widely different structures, their metabolism by various tissues and cells, and, in turn, their molecular-biochemical effects on the cells. This rapidly expanded body of information, as effectively covered in the predecessor volumes, is an excellent entree to the second half of the overall problem of chemical carcinogenesis, the processes. The active agents trigger a large array of molecular-biochemical alterations to which the target cells, target tissues, and target organisms respond in many select and common ways. This second major aspect of the induction of cancer by chemicals (and by other agents)- the sequence of cellular and tissue changes clearly relevant to cancer-remains the challenge for the future.

The fifth of the annual research conferences of the American Institute for Cancer Research was held September l-2, 1994, at the L'Enfant Plaza Hotel in Washington, DC. Appropriately, in view of current directions in research, the theme was "Diet and Cancer: Molecular Mechanisms of Interactions." This proceedings volume contains chapters from the platform presentations and abstracts from the poster session held on the end of the first day. The subtopics for the tl;rree sessions held were "Retinoids, Vitamins A and Din Cancer Prevention and Therapy," "Choline and Lipids: Signal Transduction, Gene Expression and Growth Regulation," and "Dietary Factors and Regulation of Oncogenes, Growth and Differentiation. " A general overview on vitamins A and D emphasized that A and D, in addition to their established roles in vision, reproduction, and bone mineral homeostasis, may play significant roles in regulating cell function. Vitamin A metabolites, trans-retinoic acid and 9-cis-retinoic acid, regulate growth and differentiation. Furthermore, vitamin A deprived animals were more susceptible to both spontaneous and carcinogen-induced tumors. Epidemiological studies showed a correlation between low A intake and higher incidences of certain types of human cancers. Conversely, all-trans retinoic acid is useful in treatment and control of certain types of cancer. Physiologically, Vitamin D is converted to the active form, l,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (VD). VD regulates hormone production and secretion, myocardial contractility, vascu 3 3 3 lar tone, and growth inhibition and differentiation."

This volume provides a comprehensive review of resistance induced by photodynamic therapy (PDT) in tumor cells. Understanding the underlying mechanisms in this process leads to the improvement of therapeutic modality, in combination with chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and radiotherapy. Photodynamic therapy is a minimally invasive therapeutic procedure that can exert a selective or preferential cytotoxic activity toward malignant cells. The procedure involves administration of an intrinsically non-toxic photosensitizing agent (PS) followed by irradiation at a wavelength corresponding to a visible absorption band of the sensitizer. In the presence of oxygen, a series of events lead to direct tumor cell death, damage to the microvasculature, and induction of a local inflammatory reaction. Studies reveal that PDT can be curative, particularly in early stage tumors and this volume explores the potential of PDT, but also reveals strategic approaches to overcome resistance in tumor cells.

Thesocietalburdenofcancerisoneofthemajorpublichealthchallengesofour time. Yetthatburdenisnotequallysharedbyall. Troublingdisparitieshave been documented not only by racial/ethnic group but also by social class, insurancestatus,geography,andahostofotherdimensions. Furthermore, suchdisparitiesrepresenttheendresultofaconstellationofforcesstemming frominsideandoutsidethehealthcaresystem. Manycancerdisparitiesshould bepreventable. Fewhaveattemptedtocapturethebreadthanddepthofthedimensionsof cancerdisparitiesfrombothclinicalaswellaspublichealthperspectives. To addressthisneed,wepresentthisvolumeto: broaden concepts of disparities beyond traditional discussions of race/ ethnicitytoexplorehow,where,andwhytheyoccur; focusoncancerdisparitiesintheUS,whilecitingsomemajorexamplesfrom abroad; analyzecertainmajorcancerswithrespecttodisparities,withemphasison socioeconomicposition; examinethesourcesofdisparitiesfrombothinsideandoutsidethehealth caresystem; identifyinitialinterventionsthatattempttoreduceandeliminatethesed- parities;and identifyissuesthatdeserveattentionwithrespecttofutureresearch. Ourmonographaddressescancerdisparitiesacrossthecontinuum(fromp- vention to mortality and by the domains of social inequality). We begin by exploringbroaddimensionsuchasdefinitionsofdisparities,datasystems,the roleofgenesandenvironment,andtheroleofworkandoccupationincancer disparities. Thenwemoveintospecificchallengesincancerdisparitiessuchas tobaccouseandlungcancer,breastcancer,colorectalcancer,prostatecancer, cervicalcancer,melanoma,andhepatocellularcarcinoma. Wethenconcludewith someavenuestoaddresscancerdisparities,includingpolicyandadvocacy,health v vi Preface communication, overcoming barriers to cancer care, and community-based approaches. Oureffortsarefarfromexhaustive,buttheyrepresentoneofthe firstattemptstoaddresscancerdisparitiesfromsuchacomprehensiveperspective. Thisvolumereflectstheworkofanumberofnationalexpertsincancer disparities. Many are members of the Executive Committee of the Cancer Disparities Program-in-Development of the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center. Still others are also investigators in the National Cancer Institute Community Network Program MassCONECT (Massachusetts Community NetworkstoEliminateCancerDisparitiesthroughEducation,Researchand Training). Also,thisvolumeupdatesandexpandsaearlier2005monographon thetopicpublishedinthejournalCancerCausesandControl. Allauthorsare dedicatedtothegoalofeliminatingcancerdisparitiesandIamindebtedto them. IamparticularlygratefultoRachelWarren,TerraZipoyrnSnider,andDr. ClaudiaArriggfortheirunendingencouragementandsupport. Itismyhope thatthismonographrepresentsanothercontributiontowardhelpingallpeople enjoytheirhighestattainablestandardofhealth. Boston,MA HowardK. Koh,MD,MPH Contents PartI DimensionsofCancerDisparities 1 Defining,Investigating,andAddressingCancerInequities: CriticalIssues...3 NancyKrieger,KarenM. Emmons,andDavidWilliams 2 CancerDisparities:DataSystems,Sources,andInterpretation...29 BarbaraD. Powe,AhmedinJemal,DexterCooper, andLokieHarmond 3 Genes,Environment,andCancerDisparities...49 AlexandraE. Shields,StephanieM. Fullerton,andKennethOlden 4 WorkandOccupation:ImportantIndicatorsofSocioeconomic PositionandLifeExperiencesInfluencingCancerDisparities...83 GlorianSorensen,GraceSembajwe,AmyHarley, andLisaQuintiliani PartII SpecificChallengesinCancerDisparities 5 DisparitiesinTobaccoUseandLungCancer...109 HowardK. Koh,LorisElqura,andSarahMassinShort 6 SocioeconomicStatusandBreastCancerDisparities...137 SherrieFlyntWallington,OtisW. Brawley, andMichelleD. Holmes 7 DisparitiesandColorectalCancer...161 EricC. Schneider 8 DisparitiesinProstateCancer...179 OtisW. BrawleyandSherrieFlyntWallington vii viii Contents 9 DisparitiesandCervicalCancer...203 MarceladelCarmenandTeresaDiaz-Montez 10 MelanomaandPrimaryHepatocellularCarcinoma...227 ChristopherA. Aoki,AlanGeller,andMoonS. Chen PartIII SomeAvenuestoAddressCancerDisparities 11 Interventions,Policy,andAdvocacy...259 DeborahKleinWalkerandChristineM. Judge 12 HealthCommunicationandCommunicationInequalities inAddressingCancerDisparities...277 K. ViswanathandKarenM. Emmons 13 OvercomingBarrierstoCancerCare:PatientandPublic Perspectives...299 KarenDonelan 14 Community-BasedApproachestoCancerDisparities...317 BarbaraGottlieb Index...359 Contributors ChristopherA. Aoki DivisionofGastroenterologyandHepatology, DepartmentofInternalMedicine,SchoolofMedicine,Universityof California,Davis,CA OtisW. Brawley AmericanCancerSocietyandEmoryUniversity,Atlanta,GA MarceladelCarmen DivisionofGynecologicOncology,Massachusetts GeneralHospital,HarvardMedicalSchool,Boston,MA MoonS.

This volume brings together the key research issues in clinical and laboratory science relating to metastasis in prostate cancer. It is especially suitable for those in the field, whether physicians and/or scientists, and whether in active research or in training, who wish to broaden their understanding, with regard to their own discipline, and also to another. It is also a resource for those whose research is in metastasis, but in diseases other than prostate cancer. The intention of this volume is to help to empower those who seek to further exploit the potential for translational research in this field.Written by a team of internationally recognised experts, coverage ranges from the most fundamental aspects of the molecular biology of metastasis, to the patient in the clinic. The therapeutic approaches range from conventional drug design to immunogene therapy.

This new work on oral complications of cancer chemotherapy is edited by two dentists who have made pioneering contributions in this previously neglected area. Their efforts have established the invaluable role of the dentist in oncologic research and cancer patient management. The editors have collected nine chapters that will be of interest to dentists and dental hygienists, oncology nurses, and all physicians treating cancer patients with chemo therapeutic agents. Background chapters on oral complications of cancer chemotherapy, the pharmacology of chemotherapeutic agents, and principles of infection management and prevention set the stage for more specific chapters focusing on prevention and treatment of chemotherapy induced oral and dental disorders. Valuable contributions to the supportive care of the cancer patient are contained in this book. A full comprehension of this book, coupled with an appreciation for advances in other areas of supportive care, such as antiemetic therapy and pain control, will allow all those involved in cancer treatment to be more successful. Peter H. Wiernik, M.D. Emil Frei, M.D."

The hybridoma technique for producing monoclonal antibodies developed by Drs. Kohler and Millstein in 1975 revolutionized the field of tumor immunology. It is now clear that there are antigens associated with or restricted to human neoplasms that have biologic significance. Monoclonal antibodies have already been demonstrated to have great immunodiagnostic value, and it is anticipated that they will become a component of our therapeutic armamentarium. Most investigators in the field, however, feel the true potential of monoclonal antibodies in cancer therapy remains to be determined. Clearly the most encouraging results have been witnessed in the treatment of hematologic malignancies. This volume of Cancer Treatment and Research explores the current state of the art of immunoconjugate therapy of hematologic malignancies. The first chapter, authored by Drs. Rosen and Kuzel, reviews the current status of radioimmunotherapy of lymphoma. Results of clinical investigations utilizing radiolabeled immunoconjugates in B-cell lymphomas, T-cell lym- phomas, and Hodgkin's disease are discussed. In addition, obstacles to effective antibody therapy are highlighted and toxicities are summarized. Chapter 2, written by Drs. Sgouros and Scheinberg, critiques the treat- ment of leukemia with radiolabeled monoclonal antibodies. In this chapter, the unique features of leukemia that make it particularly suitable for radio- immunotherapy are discussed, an overview of selected clinical trials is presented, and a treatment planning approach to radioimmunotherapy in- corporating biologic and physical parameters is reviewed.

Volume 12 in this series explores the latest experimental and clinical uses of stem cells in the treatment of disease and of injuries and reviews methods for isolating multipotent endothelial-like cells from human adipose tissue and discusses clinical applications in cell therapy and regenerative medicine.

The book is organized in five parts: Cancer Stem Cells, Pluripotent Stem Cells, Dendritic Stem Cells, Regenerative Medicine and General Applications. The first section includes chapters on histamine in the neural and cancer stem cell niches and emerging concepts of stem cell organization in the normal lung and in lung cancer. The section on Pluripotent Stem Cells includes discussion of the differentiation of dendritic cells from human induced pluripotent stem cell and the molecular mechanisms involved in reprogramming human somatic cells to generate induced pluripotent stem cells. Additional chapters cover the differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cells into functional cardiomyocytes, characteristics of satellite cells and multipotent adult stem cells in the skeletal muscle. The section on Dendritic Stem Cells explores the critical role of notch signaling in the differentiation and function of dendrite. Other chapters cover hypertensive emergencies in children after stem cell transplantation and overcoming the radio resistance of lung cancer stem cells. The section on Regenerative Medicine reports on experiments on improved renal revascularization in pigs using stem cells and phenotypic correction of murine Hemophilia A using cell-based therapy. The concluding section, General Applications, discusses such topics as methods in mathematical modeling for stem cells, as well as molecular and functional characterization of human adipocytes.

Like its eleven predecessors in the series," " this volume stands out for its comprehensive approach, its roster of some 51 expert contributors representing a dozen different countries and its up-to-date review of leading-edge technology and methods.

A panel of leading academic and pharmaceutical investigators takes stock of the remarkable work that has been accomplished to date with proteasome inhibitors in cancer, and examines emerging therapeutic possibilities. The topics range from a discussion of the chemistry and cell biology of the proteasome and the rationale for proteasome inhibitors in cancer to a review of current clinical trials underway. The discussion of rationales for testing proteasome inhibitors in cancer models covers the role of the proteasome in NF-kB activation, the combining of conventional chemotherapy and radiation with proteasome inhibition, notably PS-341, new proteasome methods of inhibiting viral maturation, and the role of protesome inhibition in the treatment of AIDS. The authors also document the development of bortezomib (Velcade (TM)) in Phase I clinical trials and in a multicentered Phase II clinical trials in patients with relapsed and refractory myeloma.

Where do you begin to look for a recent, authoritative article on the diagnosis or management of a particular malignancy? The few general oncology textbooks are generally out of date. Single papers in specialized journals are informative but seldom comprehensive; these are more often preliminary reports on a very limited number of patients. Certain general journals frequently publish good indepth reviews of cancer topics, and published symposium lectures are often the best overviews available. Unfortunately, these reviews and supplements appear sporadically, and the reader can never be sure when a topic of special interest will be covered. Cancer treatment and Research is a series of authoritative volumes which aim to meet this need. It is an attempt to establish a critical mass of oncology literature covering virtually all oncology topics, revised frequently to keep the coverage up to date, easily available on a single library shelf or by a single personal subscription. We have approached the problem in the following fashion. First, by dividing the oncology literature into specific subdivisions such as lung cancer, genitour inary cancer, pediatric oncology, etc. Second, by asking eminent authorities in each of these areas to edit a volume on the specific topic on an annual or biannual basis. Each topic and tumor type is covered in a volume appearing frequently and predictably, discussing current diagnosis, staging, markers, all forms of treatment modalities, basic biology, and more."