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.

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.

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.

The gastrointestinal track provides one of the distinct systems where multiple malignancies, including adenocarcinoma of the pancreas, esophagus and colon are each associated with obesity. This unique association is covered in this volume of Energy Balance and Cancer from the epidemiologic, biologic and potential etiologic viewpoint. The focus on possible dietary contribution as well as the role of exercise in prevention and therapy is presented in both animal model and patient based studies. Special focus is provided also on the role of genetic mutations and inflammatory pathways as drivers of these obesity related gastrointestinal malignancies. Overall, this volume on Energy Balance and Gastrointestinal Malignancies should be valuable to Epidemiologists, Gastroenterologists and Oncologists, as well as to students and researchers from multiple disciplines interested in understanding and disrupting the association between obesity and cancer.

Presenting contributions by 66 experts representing 13 countries, Volume 10 of the series Stem Cells and Cancer Stem Cells synthesizes current understanding of the causes, diagnosis, and therapy of major human diseases and debilitating tissue and organ injuries, using cell-based treatment. This volume presents contemporary research into generation, preservation, and uses of stem cells in fighting disease and tissue/organ injuries.

The contents of the volume are organized into five sections. Mesenchymal Stem Cells section includes chapters on the use of stem cells in bone regeneration, studies and trials of stem cells in autoimmune diseases, and differences between adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells and bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells as regulators of immune response. Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells section offers chapters on drug discovery using human IPSC-based disease models, and on generation of antigen-specific lymphocytes from IPSCs. Neural Cells and Neural Stem Cells section discusses use of bacterial artificial chromosomes in the genetic identification of stem cell-derived neural cell types, and use of moderate low temperature to preserve the stemness of neural stem cells. The section, Role of Stem Cells in Disease, discusses stem cell support in high-dose chemotherapy of Non-Hodgkin s Lymphomas; potential targets for drug resistant leukemic stem cells, bone marrow stem cell therapies for diabetes mellitus. This section also discusses the use of stem cells in treating thyroid, breast and bone cancers, hempophilia and Parkinson s Disease. The section, Stem Cell Transplantation, includes chapters on reducing fungal infection in allogenic stem cell transplantation patients, use of Bulsufan/Fludarabine for conditioning in haematopoietic stem cell transplantation, and interleukin-7 receptor alpha polymorphisms in allogeneic stem cell transplantation.

The editor, M.A. Hayat, is a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Biological, Sciences at Kean University, Union, New Jersey, USA.

"

Mast cells are versatile, tissue-homing secretory cells, which were first described by Paul Ehrlich in 1878. Mast cells have long been implicated in the pathogenesis of allergic reactions and certain protective responses to parasites. Their functional role, however, has been discovered to be increasingly complex and multifarious. Mast cells have been implicated in various cell-mediated immune reactions, being found in tissues from multiple disease sites, and as a component of the host reaction to bacteria, parasite, and even virus infections. They have also been shown to participate to angiogenic and tissue repair processes after injury. The importance of a possible functional link between chronic inflammation and cancer has long been recognized. As most tumours contain inflammatory cell infiltrates, which often include plentiful mast cells, the question as to the possible contribution of mast cells to tumour development has progressively been emerged. In this book, the general biology of these cells, their development, anatomical distribution and phenotype as well as their secretory products will first be discussed. The biology of tumour cells, their structural and molecular characteristics, the specificity of the tumour microenvironment and the development of a vascular network in the tumour context will be analyzed. The involvement of mast cells in tumour biology and tumour fate will then be considered, with particular emphasis on the capacity of these cells to stimulate tumour growth by promoting angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis. The last chapter suggest that mast cells may serve as a novel therapeutic target for cancer treatment.

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.

The study of viruses necessarily involves dissecting the intimate details of cellular pathways. Viruses have often been employed as tools in studying cellular pathways, as was done by early retrovirologists such as Peyton Rous in attempting to understand the mechanism of cellular transformation and oncogenesis. On the other side of the coin, virologists seek to de?ne those cellular elements interacting intimatelywiththeir virus ofinterestinorder to better understand viral replication itself, and in some cases to develop antiviral strategies. It is in the intersection of virology and cell biology that many of us ?nd the most rewarding aspects of our research. When a new discovery yields insights into basic cellular mechanisms and presents new targets for int- vention to ?ght a serious pathogen, the impact can be high and the excitement intense. HIV has been no exception to the rule that viruses reveal many basic aspects of cellular biology. In recent years, in part because of the importance of HIV as a major cause of human suffering, numerous cellular processes have been elucidated through work on processes or proteins of this human retrovirus. The excitement in this ?eld is especially well illustrated by the discovery of new innate means of resisting viral replication, such as the work on APOBEC3G, TRIM5a, and BST-2/ tetherin presented in this volume.

In this book, clinicians and basic scientists from USA, India, and other countries discuss the rationales and clinical experiences with targeted approaches to treat, prevent, or manage cancer. Cancer is a hyperproliferative disorder that is regulated by multiple genes and multiple cell signaling pathways. Genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics have revealed that dysregulation of dozens of genes and their products occur in any given cell type that ultimately leads to cancer. These discoveries are providing unprecedented opportunities to tackle cancer by multi-faceted approaches that target these underpinnings. This book emphasizes a multi-targeted approach to treating cancer, the focus of the 5th International Conference on Translational Cancer Research that was held in Vigyan Bhawan, Delhi (India) from Feb 6-9, 2014.

Despite tremendous recent advances in the treatment of most malignancies, there remain several critical questions for each cancer. This particularly true for the surgical management of solid-organ malignancies. Comparative effectiveness is a relatively new term which encompasses the age-old concepts of how best to treat cancer patients. Comparative effectiveness is defined as the direct comparison of healthcare interventions to determine which work best for which patients when considering the benefits and risks. The Institute of Medicine has defined comparative effectiveness research(CER) as the generation and synthesis of evidence that compares the benefits and harms of alternative methods to prevent, diagnose, treat, and monitor a clinical condition or to improve the delivery of care. CER is certainly best done with well-conducted randomized controlled trials. Unfortunately, clinical trials are not always feasible owing to the impracticality of conducting the trial, the considerable cost, and the time required to complete the trial. These challenges are even more pronounced with respect to surgical treatment. Thus alternative approaches may need to be considered in order to address pressing questions in the care of the oncology patient. These approaches may include well-conducted retrospective cohort studies from cancer registries and other data sources, decision and cost-effectiveness analyses, and other novel methodologies. This book lays out the current critical questions for each major malignancy and proposes approaches to gain answers to these pressing questions.

This volume will be the first to provide a comprehensive description of tumor dormancy. It will define the clinical and biological aspects of this phenomenon, as well as the cellular and molecular mechanisms associated with tumor dormancy. Chapters will be authored by world-renewed experts who are conducting cutting-edge research in the field. A unique feature will be a conclusive paragraph detailing future development and foreseeable clinical applications at the end of each chapter. The volume will serve as a fundamental instrument for every researcher and clinician interested in the field of tumor dormancy as well as a means of disseminating stimulating concepts and prompting the development of innovative technological solutions.

This volume contains information on the diagnosis, therapy, and prognosis of spinal tumors. Various aspects of different major types of spinal tumors (astrocytomas, ependymomas, and oligodendroglioma) are discussed. Insights into the understanding of molecular pathways involved in tumor biology are explained. Classification of intradural spinal tumors, including the percentages of each of the three major types, is detailed. Symptoms, radiological features, and clinicopathological parameters of spinal cord tumors are explained. Diagnosis, outcome, and prognosis of primary spinal cord and oligodendroglioma are discussed. Diagnosis of some other spinal tumors (e.g., pilomyxoid and chordomas) is also explained. The useful role of neuroimaging in diagnosing spinal teratoid/rhabdoid and gangliogliomas is included. A wide variety of treatments of a number of spinal cord tumor types are presented in detail. Therapies discussed include chemotherapy, surgery, radiosurgery, stereotactic radiosurgery, Cyberknife stereotactic radiotherapy, standard radiation alone, and rhenium-186 intracavity radiation. Also are duiscussed embolozation and spondylectomy. The usefulness of transplantation of human embryonic stem cells-derived oligodendrocyte progenitors and motoneuron progenitors in the repair of injured spinal cord is emphasized. Symptoms of the advent of spinal tumors are pointed out. Introduction to new technologies and their applications to spinal cord tumor diagnosis, treatment, and therapy assessment are explained.

Recent studies have shown that cells from adipose tissue are capable of trafficking to tumors, thus enabling paracrine action of adipokines from within the tumor microenvironment. Increased tumor vascularization, immune system suppression and direct effects on malignant cell survival and proliferation have been investigated as mechanisms regulated by adipokines. The goal of this book is to discuss data pointing to the role of adipose tissue in cancer and to dissect individual mechanisms through which adipose tissue excess or restriction could influence cancer progression.

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.

With the explosion of information on autophagy in cancer, this is an opportune time to speed the efforts to translate our current knowledge about autophagy regulation into better understanding of its role in cancer. This book will cover the latest advances in this area from the basics, such as the molecular machinery for autophagy induction and regulation, up to the current areas of interest such as modulation of autophagy and drug discovery for cancer prevention and treatment. The text will include an explanation on how autophagy can function in both oncogenesis and tumor suppression and a description of its function in tumor development and tumor suppression through its roles in cell survival, cell death, cell growth as well as its influences on inflammation, immunity, DNA damage, oxidative stress, tumor microenvironment, etc. The remaining chapters will cover topics on autophagy and cancer therapy. These pages will serve as a description on how the pro-survival function of autophagy may help cancer cells resist chemotherapy and radiation treatment as well as how the pro-death functions of autophagy may enhance cell death in response to cancer therapy, and how to target autophagy for cancer prevention and therapy what to target and how to target it.

This teaching monograph on systems approaches to cancer research and clinical applications provides a unique synthesis, by world-class scientists and doctors, of laboratory, computational, and clinical methods, thereby establishing the foundations for major advances not possible with current methods. Specifically, the book: 1) Sets the stage by describing the basis of systems biology and bioinformatics approaches, and the clinical background of cancer in a systems context; 2) Summarizes the laboratory, clinical, data systems analysis and bioinformatics tools, along with infrastructure and resources required; 3) Demonstrates the application of these tools to cancer research; 4) Extends these tools and methods to clinical diagnosis, drug development and treatment applications; and 5) Finishes by exploring longer term perspectives and providing conclusions. This book reviews the state-of-the-art, and goes beyond into new applications. It is written and highly referenced as a textbook and practical guide aimed at students, academics, doctors, clinicians, industrialists and managers in cancer research and therapeutic applications. Ideally, it will set the stage for integration of available knowledge to optimize communication between basic and clinical researchers involved in the ultimate fight against cancer, whatever the field of specific interest, whatever the area of activity within translational research.

Receptor Tyrosine Kinase: Structure, Functions and Role in Human Disease, for the first time, systematically covers the shared structural and functional features of the RTK family. Receptor Tyrosine Kinases (RTKs) play critical roles in embryogenesis, normal physiology and several diseases. And over the last decade they have become the Number 1 targets of cancer drugs. To be able to conduct fundamental research or to attempt to develop pharmacological agents able to enhance or intercept them, it is essential first to understand the evolutionary origin of the 58 RTKs and their roles in invertebrates and in humans, as well as downstream signaling pathways. The assembly of chapters is written by experts and underscores commonalities between and among the RTKs. It is an ideal companion volume to The Receptor Tyrosine Kinase: Families and Subfamilies, which proceeds, family by family through all of the specific subfamilies of RTKs, along with their unique landmarks.

This volume discusses novel concepts in cancer biology, focusing on different factors that affect the tumor microenvironment. Topics covered include sex-based differences in the tumor microenironment, dormancy in the tumor microenvironment, the influence of obesity on the tumor microenvironment, and much more. Taken alongside its companion volumes, Tumor Microenvironment: Novel Concepts covers the latest research on various aspects of the tumor microenvironment, as well as future directions. Useful for introducing the newer generation of researchers to the history of how scientists studied the tumor microenvironment as well as how this knowledge is currently applied for cancer treatments, it will be essential reading for advanced cell biology and cancer biology students, as well as researchers seeking an update on research on the tumor microenvironment.

Describes the ability of a series of endocrine-derived compounds, i.e. CHRH, LHRH, somatostatin, anti-androgens, and aromatase inhibitors to exert a direct anti-neoplastic activity or to potentiate the activity of traditional chemotherapeutic agents on neuroendocrine and solid tumors. In addition, a new class of potent GH-releasers, GSHs/Ghrelin, endowed with important endocrine and extra-endcocrine action, is presented. Therefore, in addition to traditional chemotherapy, characterized by high toxicity and non-selective action on tumoral cells, the reader can find a new approach with more selective, less cytotoxic endocrine derived compounds.

This volume describes up-to-date techniques used in understanding the molecular biology of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and addressing advances in diagnosis, classification, prognostication, and therapeutic strategies to potentially impact overall patient survival. The chapters in this book cover topics such as: cytochemical staining, single-cell mass cytometry of AML and Leukemia stem/progenitor cells, microsphere-based assessment of DNA methylation for AML prognosis, a zebrafish model for evaluating the function of human leukemic gene IDH1 and its mutation, and the isolation of biologically active exosomes from plasma of patients with cancer. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Cutting-edge and practical, Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Methods and Protocols is a valuable resource for scientists and researchers to further their studies and advancements in the field of AML.

This book presents a comprehensive overview of current state-of-the-art clinical physiological imaging of brain tumors. It focuses on the clinical applications of various modalities as they relate to brain tumor imaging, including techniques such as blood oxygen level dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging, diffusion tensor imaging, magnetic source imaging/magnetoencephalography, magnetic resonance perfusion imaging, magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging, amide proton transfer imaging, high angular resolution diffusion imaging, and molecular imaging. Featuring contributions from renowned experts in functional imaging, this book examines the diagnosis and characterization of brain tumors, details the application of functional imaging to treatment planning and monitoring of therapeutic intervention, and explores future directions in physiologic brain tumor imaging. Intended for neuro-oncologists, neurosurgeons, neuroradiologists, residents, and medical students, Functional Imaging of Brain Tumors is a unique resource that serves to advance patient care and research in this rapidly developing field.

This volume, in discussing resistance to ibritumomab, will focus on the mechanism, hematological aspects, radiological and nuclear medicine aspects, and medical physics that deal with radiation dosimetry, and will outline future prospects for overcoming resistance and enhancing efficacy of ibritumomab.

PARP Inhibitors for Cancer Therapy provides a comprehensive overview of the role of PARP in cancer therapy. The volume covers the history of the discovery of PARP (poly ADP ribose polymerase) and its role in DNA repair. In addition, a description of discovery of the PARP family, and other DNA maintenance-associated PARPs will also be discussed. The volume also features a section on accessible chemistry behind the development of inhibitors. PARP inhibitors are a group of pharmacological inhibitors that are a particularly good target for cancer therapy. PARP plays a pivotal role in DNA repair and may contribute to the therapeutic resistance to DNA damaging agents used to treat cancer. Researchers have learned a tremendous amount about the biology of PARP and how tumour-specific defects in DNA repair can be exploited by PARPi. The "synthetic lethality" of PARPi is an exciting concept for cancer therapy and has led to a heightened activity in this area.