Breast cancer is the most common malignancy among the female population. With advances in systemic therapies and modern radiotherapy techniques, breast cancer patients can have a long life-expectancy. However, it is crucial that radiation therapy is carried out with minimum complications and with the utmost efficiency.

"Principles and Practice of Modern Radiotherapy Techniques in Breast Cancer" provides practical and current theoretical knowledge to the planning and implementation of breast cancer radiation therapy. All aspects of breast cancer are covered, including epidemiology, molecular and biological basis and integrating systemic therapies during all steps of treatment.

The illustrated section of this book identifies anatomical structures in daily practice by presenting target and critical structures in actual treatment positions. These images show and mark the anatomical points of the patient lying in the position that breast radiation therapy would be performed.

This text serves as a valuable resource for clinicians, residents and fellows practicing and learning breast cancer radiotherapy.

This volume is unique in reporting on strategies for the application of molecular targeted imaging agents such as antibodies, peptides, receptors and contrast agents in the biologic grading of tumors, differential diagnosis of tumors, prediction of therapeutic response and monitoring tumor response to treatment. It also includes updated information on the imaging of tumor angiogenesis, hypoxia, apoptosis and gene delivery as well as expression in the understanding and utility of tumor molecular biology for better cancer management.

Over the past decade, techniques have been developed and implemented to observe metabolism noninvasively in localized regions of intact, living experimental animals and humans through the use of magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). At the same time, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques developed in the 1970s and refined in this decade have been increasingly applied as a powerful clinical tool to probe human anatomy. Because of the unusual metabolic and physiologic characteristics of malignant tissues, oncology has been one of the primary focuses of the application of both MRS and MRI. Although considerable progress has been made in oncologic applications of magnetic resonance (MR), further research is needed to realize the full potential of MR in this area. Consequently, the 21st Annual Detroit Cancer Symposium entitled "Magnetic Resonance in Experimental and Clin ical Oncology" was organized to provide a forum for researchers in the field to report the state of the art of MRS and MRI in oncol ogy, to discuss future goals for MRS and MRI in oncology, and to define the research needed to meet those goals. The major emphasis of the symposium was on MRS due to both the recent widespread availability of clinical MRS instrumentation and the extensive amount of animal MRS research performed over the past half decade."

In the recent years, a significant amount of research has emerged connecting the link between alcohol and cancer. The field has rapidly advanced, especially since the complex connection between alcohol and cancer has several unique sub areas that are being investigated. This proceedings volume will contain chapters based upon the presentation of the 2nd International Conference on Alcohol and Cancer in Colorado, 2013. The various topics explore the affects of alcohol on: liver and breast cancer; cell signaling and cancer; stem cells; biomarkers and metabolomics; aerodigestive cancers; cancer and the immune system and more.

This book illustrates the importance of the Natural Biometabolites, which offer a rich reservoir of candidate compounds for drug discovery in the battle against cancer. Recent research and development efforts concerning anti-cancer drugs derived from natural products have led to the identification of numerous candidate molecules that inhibit cancer cell proliferation and metastasis using a variety of mechanisms. Given its scope, the book offers a valuable resource for cancer biologists and general oncologists alike, while also benefitting research professionals in Science, Nursing, Medicine, Biochemistry, Genetics and Bioscience who wish to understand the fundamentals of prognosis and prediction in tumorigenesis. Moreover, the book provides an essential platform for understanding drug resistance mechanisms and combatting the growing menace of multidrug resistance.

Current radiation protection standards are based upon the application of the linear no-threshold (LNT) assumption, which considers that even very low doses of ionizing radiation can cause cancer. The radiation hormesis hypothesis, by contrast, proposes that low-dose ionizing radiation is beneficial. In this book, the author examines all facets of radiation hormesis in detail, including the history of the concept and mechanisms, and presents comprehensive, up-to-date reviews for major cancer types. It is explained how low-dose radiation can in fact decrease all-cause and all-cancer mortality and help to control metastatic cancer. Attention is also drawn to biases in epidemiological research when using the LNT assumption. The author shows how proponents of the LNT assumption consistently reject, manipulate, and deliberately ignore an overwhelming abundance of published data and falsely claim that no reliable data are available at doses of less than 100 mSv.

Biostatistics is defined as much by its application as it is by theory. This book provides an introduction to biostatistical applications in modern cancer research that is both accessible and valuable to the cancer biostatistician or to the cancer researcher, learning biostatistics. The topical areas include active areas of the application of biostatistics to modern cancer research: survival analysis, screening, diagnostics, spatial analysis and the analysis of microarray data.
Biostatistics is an essential component of basic and clinical cancer research. The text, authored by distinguished figures in the field, addresses clinical issues in statistical analysis. The spectrum of topics discussed ranges from fundamental methodology to clinical and translational applications.

Brain metastases are the most dreaded complication of systemic cancer, affecting some 170,000 people a year, a far greater incidence than primary brain tumors. This book presents current information on the presentation and management of patients with brain metastases, providing available data, giving guidelines that can be applied in day to day practice, updated information for neurosurgeons, radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, and neuron-oncologists, and as an overview for physicians in training.

Breast cancer, being a disease with very high prevalence in the female population, has permanently attracted the attention of biologists, biochemists, pathologists, surgeons, and oncologists. In the U.S. alone approximately 120,000 new cases are diagnosed and 37,000 deaths a year are recorded as an outcome. Early diagnosis, clear cut prognosis and the hope of new therapeutic approaches has spurred the enthusiasm of researchers, who with the advent of newer methodologies, tried to employ it in different approaches to the breast cancer patient. In spite of the efforts devoted towards the creation of new approaches, reagents and procedures taking advantage of special characteristics of the breast tissue were slow to come. In general, most diagnostic and prognostic techniques were those shared and applied to other carcinomas. In the early seventies we discovered the first sets of antigens associated with breast epithelial tissue both in the mouse and the human. The recognition of such group of molecules, present in the milk fat globule membrane, gave impetus to several studies in these areas. These mammary cell surface antigens proved useful in several diagnostic approaches such as radioimaging, histochemical and serum assay procedures. However, the apparently inherent limitations of polyclonal antibodies reduced the impact of these novel approaches.

Offers comprehensive coverage of currently available cancer predictors, the most recent research on carcinogenicity, and the design and interpretation of carcinogenicity experiments. Presents mouse, rat, and human carcinogenicity data for the liver, kidney, breast, cervix, prostate, hematopoietic system, colon, skin, urinary bladder, mouth, stomach, thyroid, and pancreas.

This issue of Radiologic Clinics focuses on Update on Incidental Cross-sectional Imaging Findings and is edited by Drs. Douglas S. Katz and John J. Hines. Articles will include: General review on the current management of incidental findings on cross-imaging: What guidelines to use, how to follow them, and management and medical-legal considerations; Incidental findings on CT and MR of the brain; Incidental spine findings on CT and MR; Imaging of incidental thyroid nodules; Incidental lung nodules on CT: Current Fleischner Society and other guidelines; Incidental breast findings on CT and MRI; Incidental liver findings on cross-sectional imaging; Incidental adrenal findings on CT; Incidental splenic findings on cross-sectional imaging; Incidental pancreatic cysts on cross-sectional imaging; Incidental renal findings on cross-sectional imaging; Incidental bowel findings on CT; Incidental ovarian and uterine findings on cross-sectional imaging; and more!

This book serves a snapshot of the current knowledge base in field. As human papillomavirus (HPV) causes a rising number of oropharyngeal cancers, understanding the biological, clinical and social implications of this infection has become increasingly important for head and neck practitioners. This book reflects the multidisciplinary nature of the scientific and clinical questions involved in this disease. Experts in epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment of HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer present in-depth reviews which will help to improve the reader's understanding of this topic. The authors provide insight for answers of common patient and provider questions about HPV infection and related disease, and highlight remaining questions to be answered in the coming years.

"Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation" integrates basic research and clinical aspects underlying the most recent results in those malignant diseases where progress is most effective.
Recent evidence shows that higher doses are better in inducing higher cure rates in hematological neoplasias, although myeloblation related to dose intensity can be a limiting factor. The toxicity can now be controlled with autologous marrow and peripheral blood progenitor cell transplantation, used with or without growth factors. The combination of high dose chemoradiotherapy followed by re-infusion of autologous stem cells constitute a dramatic advance in the treatment of refactory and relapse hematological neoplasias.

This book covers the entire spectrum of thyroid diseases in childhood, focusing on the recent advances that have been achieved, from progress in basic science research through to novel or improved approaches to diagnosis and treatment. Introductory chapters discuss thyroid embryogenesis and the role of thyroid hormones in fetal development. The two contrasting forms of thyroid dysfunction, hypo- and hyperthyroidism, are then considered in depth, with particular attention to the molecular causes of congenital hypothyroidism. Among the other topics addressed are autoimmune thyroiditis, thyroid nodules, and pediatric neoplasms. The book concludes with an overview of promising therapeutic approaches, such as stem cell therapy. Each topic is treated by an eminent expert in the field, ensuring consistently high quality. Thyroid Diseases in Childhood will be an important source of information for endocrinologists, pediatricians, oncologists, and gynecologists, as well as other professionals interested in this topic.

Nausea and vomiting are two of the most common side-effects of anti-cancer treatment, and the discovery and clinical application of 5-hydroxytryptamine3 receptor antagonists has transformed the management of these side effects, resulting in a much improved quality of life for cancer patients. This text presents a detailed overview of the management of cancer-treatment induced emesis in a number of different treatment settings, and focuses on the mechanisms and use of 5-HT3 receptor antagonists. Contributions are also included from the points of view of the nurse and the patient.

This book aims to provide an up-to-date review of the literature in each of the major areas relating to the management of older gynecological cancer patients, and makes recommendations for best practice and future research. The authors come from a broad geographic spread including the UK, mainland Europe and North America to ensure a worldwide relevance.

The collection of chapters in this proceeding volume reflects the latest research presented at the Aegean meeting on Tumor Microenvironment and Cellular Stress held in Crete in Fall of 2012. The book provides critical insight to how the tumor microenvironment affects tumor metabolism, cell stemness, cell viability, genomic instability and more. Additional topics include identifying common pathways that are potential candidates for therapeutic intervention, which will stimulate collaboration between groups that are more focused on elucidation of biochemical aspects of stress biology and groups that study the pathophysiological aspects of stress pathways or engaged in drug discovery.

This book provides a systematic review of the development, function, and patho-physiologic role of plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) in humans. The chapters of the book discuss the origin and discovery, hematopoietic development as well as molecular regulation of pDCs in the context of immune activation as well as immune tolerance. It also discusses the role of pDCs in human diseases, including infections, autoimmune/inflammatory diseases, cancers and metabolic disorders, and opportunities for pDC-targeting therapies in these varied clinical contexts.

Fernando Cabanillas In 1993, Fisher et al. published the results of a randomized trial comparing three third-generation regimens against the classic CHOP combination. For several years, the oncology community had been convinced that the third generation regimens were clearly superior to CHOP. It came as a shock to many that there was no difference in outcome between the four arms of this clinical trial. The logical conclusion is that CHOP is as good as any of the other regimens tested in that study. Unfortunately, this excellent study has been misinterpreted by many as proving that there has not been any progress in the field of lymphoma during the last 20 years. Furthermore, it has led to a fatalistic attitude in the reasoning of many clinicians who feel that 'nothing works better than CHOP' and therefore that it is not worth testing new drugs or developing novel regimens. However, the process by which we move forward in the oncology field is seldom by dramatic breakthroughs. Frequently, what appears at first glance to be a breakthrough turns out later to be just a modest step forward. Several steps forward eventually add up to a major advance, but this advance goes unnoticed because of the slow nature of the process. In this volume, we have chosen to discuss several of these steps, which we feel are clearly making a positive impact on the field of lymphomas and which soon should make a major difference in therapeutic results."

Cytokines in the Genesis and Treatment of Cancer provides a comprehensive picture of the dual role of host responses in promoting and inhibiting tumor progression. This volume represents an important investigation into the emerging intersection of cancer biology and cancer immunology. The book brings together an impressive array of internationally distinguished investigators who are devoted to the study of cytokines and cancer.

Nearly 25 years of intensive research have uncovered many diverse functions for the dimeric transcription factor known as NF-kappaB (nuclear factor-kappaB). NF-kappaB affects most aspects of cellular physiology--from immunity and inflammation to apoptosis, cell survival, growth, and proliferation.

A comprehensive collection of optimized methods for dissecting the mechanisms that control epidermal growth factors (EGF) and their regulators in both normal and pathological states. These readily reproducible techniques range from the study of purified EGF receptor to complex signaling and processing networks in intact cells, including a chapter on the clinical and pharmacological considerations of their use in cancer therapy. The protocols follow the successful Methods in Molecular Biology (TM) series format, each offering step-by-step laboratory instructions, an introduction outlining the principles behind the technique, lists of the necessary equipment and reagents, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls.

There is no doubt that the advent of immunocytochemical techniques, by enhancing our ability to detect specific cell products or markers, has opened new avenues in the understanding of human diseases, and in our ability to perform better diagnosis in surgical pathology. The rapid development of this field has resulted in thousands of publications in the literature regarding immunocytochemistry in diagnostic pathology. This explosion of knowledge makes necessary publications summarizing what are the main markers available and how they can be used in the diagnosis of tumors. The need of a more organized and structured knowledge was evident during the workshop in Immunocytochemistry of Tumor Diagnosis that took place in the City of Detroit an October 1984. This book is the result of that workshop in which 22 chapters are focusing an the main subject of differential diagnosis of tumors. Jose Russo, M.D. Editor xiii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I wish to thank my many associates at the Michigan Cancer Foundation for their help in the preparation of this manuscript. I give thanks to Dr.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-? is a pleiotropic cytokine involved in a va- ety of physiological and pathological processes. After initial discovery of its ability to induce cell death and animal cachexia, it was soon realized that this cytokine played pivotal roles in the regulation of homeostasis and inflam- tory-immune responses. This led to an explosion of interest in basic and tra- lational research activities on the role of TNF in many diseases, such as cancer, septic shock, rheumatoid arthritis, and infectious diseases of the central n- vous system. Because of its potential therapeutic value, many academic and industrial research groups have worked to discover compounds that can block its activity. These studies have led to the approval of anti-TNF antibodies and soluble TNF receptors for the therapy of rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's d- ease. TNF also can be an attractive anticancer agent capable of damaging tum- associated vessels and of inducing tumor necrosis in patients. The unique properties of TNF have led to its registration as a drug for locoregional tre- ment of sarcomas of the extremities, and stimulated many preclinical studies aimed at improving its therapeutic index for systemic use. Tumor Necrosis Factor: Methods and Protocols provides an overview of basic and translational research along with a series of practical procedures on TNF production, characterization, mutagenesis, detection in biological spe- mens, as well as several in vitro assays and animal models for studying the role of TNF in various diseases.

This issue of PET Clinics focuses on PET-Based Novel Imaging Techniques with Recently Introduced Radiotracers and is edited by Drs. Mona-Elisabeth R. Revheim and Abass Alavi. Articles will include: Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen PET in Prostate Cancer: 68Ga/18F labelled; Critical Role of FDG in Hormonally Active Malignancies; Role of Amino-Acid Tracers and FDG in the Diagnosis of Brain Tumors; FACBC/Fluciclovine PET Imaging in Prostate Cancer; Somatostatin PET in NEN: DOTA-peptides + 68Ga/64Cu labelled; Imaging of Insulinoma with PET: DOTA-peptides, Exendin-4 PET/CT; Preclinical Evaluation of TSPO and MAO-B PET Radiotracers in an LPS Model of Neuroinflammation; Molecular Imaging of Movement Disorders; Imaging of Cardiac Amyloidosis; and more!