Target Discovery and Validation Reviews and Protocols, Volumes 1 and 2 review the most progressive and current methods for drug target discovery and validation. These volumes explore how recent improvement in understanding the molecular mechanisms of human pathology is impacting drug target discovery in the laboratory and in real therapeutics, specifically for cancers and autoimmune disorders.

Volume 1 focuses on novel and innovative techniques, and presents the most up-to-date protocols available for maximizing the likelihood of achieving target-selective inhibition in vivo while minimizing side effects. The profound impact of genomics, proteomics and bioinformatics on target discovery is explored, and specific attention is given to the role of transgenic and knockout animals in functional genomics and target validation. Cancer researchers will find tremendous value in the molecular classification of breast cancers and the review of protocols for tumor antigens and cancer vaccines. The methods and protocols collected here, all reviewed by leading scientists and clinicians, present the practical details necessary for translating the enormous discovery potential of the genome into real therapeutic products.

Volume 2 collects all the practical details required for efficient translation of discovered targets into real pharmaceutical drugs. Specific targets in cancers and autoimmunity are described and the potential of using siRNAs, antisense oligonucleotides and RNA aptamers in patients is reviewed. This volume explores the tremendous impact of the application of genotyping and gene expression profiling on the future of healthcare, and presents cutting-edge protocols to aid inbringing agents against specific targets closer to application in the clinic.

Collectively, these volumes provide a thorough review of the most cutting-edge methods available for each step in drug target identification, validation, and clinical application. For researchers, an understanding of available methods aids in the creation of innovative experiments in the laboratory, and the successful translation of target discovery to real therapeutics.

The Advances in Cancer Research series provides invaluable information on the exciting and fast-moving field of cancer research. A very special event the Nobel Minisymposium, "Molecular Oncology - From Bench to Bedside," held at the Karolinska Instituet, in Stockholm, Sweden, was marked the celebration of George and Eva Klein's combined 160th birthday. To honor this occasion, this 2nd of two volumes brings together contributions by their former students, colleagues and collaborators of the past fifty years into a volume of Advances in Cancer Research dedicated to George and Eva. Over a decade ago, a subdivision of ACR called "Foundations in Cancer Research" was initiated and the tributes honoring the Kleins' bodies of work presented at the minisymposium are especially appropriate for the series.

Leptomeningeal Metastases is intended to provide the reader with an overview of the state-of-the-art therapy for the cancer patient with leptomeningeal cancer with additional information on epidemiology, symptom management, new clinical trials, and current basic research in animal models for experimental therapies.

Among malignant tumors, adenocarcinomas of the esophagogastric junction show the highest increase in incidence over the past three decades in Western industrialized countries. This special volume, with contributions from experts in the field, covers all aspects of the disease. Etiology, pathogenesis, classification, and clinical staging are discussed, and there is special emphasis on state of the art treatment techniques. The latter range from endoscopic mucosal resections or limited surgical resections for early cancers to multimodality treatment options for locally advanced tumors. Emerging quality issues in surgical management are addressed. Detailed attention is also paid to other important recent developments, including molecular response prediction, early metabolic response evaluation by PET and PET-CT, the diagnosis of micrometastases, and the use of sentinel node technology. This volume will be of interest to all clinicians concerned with the diagnosis and management of this malignancy.

Working in mathematical oncology is a slow and difficult process, requiring the acquisition of a special mindset that goes well beyond the usual applications of mathematics and physics. "Mathematical Oncology 2013" presents the most significant recent results in the field of mathematical oncology, highlighting the work of world-class research teams. This innovative volume emphasizes the way different researchers see and approach problems, not just technical results. It covers many of the most important topics related to the mathematical modeling of tumors, including: Free boundaries. Tumors are growing entities, as such their spatial mean field description involves free boundary problems.Constitutive equations. Tumors should be described as nontrivial porous media.Stochastic dynamics. At the end of anti-cancer therapy, a small number of cells remain, whose dynamics is thus inherently stochastic.Noise-induced state transitions. The growth parameters of macroscopic tumors are non-constant, as are the parameters of anti-tumor therapies. This may induce phenomena that are mathematically equivalent to phase transitions.Stochastic and fractal geometry. Tumor vascular growth is self-similar.

The intended audience consists of graduate students and researchers in the fields biomathematics, computational and theoretical biology, biophysics and bioengineering, where the phenomenon tumor is acquiring the same relevance as in modern molecular biology."

From its introduction, oncological chemotherapy has been encumbered by its poor selectivity because most antiproliferative drugs are toxic not only to tumor cells but also to important populations of the body s non-neoplastic cells. The resultant problems with unwanted side effects are compounded by difficulties in predicting the desired effectivity of chemotherapy in individual patients.

This unsatisfactory situation has driven intensive research and development towards more specific and less toxic anticancer drugs over the last few decades. Several results of these efforts have reached the clinic and an even greater number are now in preclinical testing.

Common to all these targeted therapies is their interaction with defined molecules present on cancer cells, which adds various degrees of increased selectivity to their toxic effects. As a consequence, detecting the target molecule on tumors before therapy holds great diagnostic potential for predicting the efficacy of the drug and personalizing therapy.

This book aims to present translational scientists and clinicians with an integrated critical view on the theories, mechanisms, problems and pitfalls of the targeted therapy approach."

Convertases are widely expressed activating enzymes involved in various physiological and pathological processes. This book provides detailed and updated information on the role of these molecules in cancer. It is the first to summarize current knowledge of the importance of protein precursors maturation by the convertases in tumor progression, angiogenesis and metastasis. Each chapter discusses the importance of the convertases in the activation of various cancer-related molecules including growth factors, adhesion molecules and proteases.

The Advances in Cancer Research series provides invaluable information on the exciting and fast-moving field of cancer research. This volume stands as the first ever thematic volume in the series, focusing on the topic of genomics in cancer drug development. The chapters included in this book represent the cutting-edge information in the field and span such topics as Mass Spectrometry: Uncovering the Cancer Proteome for Diagnostics; Biomarker Discovery in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer by Genomic Approaches; The Application of siRNA Technology to Cancer Biology Discovery; Ribozyme Technology for Cancer Gene Target Identification and Validation; Cancer Cell-Based Genomic and Small Molecule Screens; Tumour Antigens as Surrogate Markers and Targets for Therapy and Vaccines; Practices and Pitfalls of Mouse Cancer Models in Drug Discovery; Biomarker Assay Translation from Discovery to Clinical Studies in Cancer Drug Development - Quantification of Emerging Protein Biomarkers; Molecular Optical Imaging of Therapeutic Targets of Cancer; Cancer Drug Approval in the United States, Europe and Japan.

This Recent Results in Cancer Research volume provides an up-to-date overview of the multidisciplinary management of locally confined rectal cancer as well as colorectal cancer with synchronous resectable liver metastases. The contents comprise the majority of the invited contributions from the Second St. Gallen EORTC Gastrointestinal Cancer Conference, held on 6-8 March 2014 in St. Gallen, Switzerland. Written by some of the world s leading experts in the imaging, endoscopy, pathology, molecular biology, surgery, radiotherapy and medical oncology of rectal cancer and liver metastases, the chapters offer a comprehensive view on the latest recommendations in diagnosis and multidisciplinary treatment. Every clinician involved in the care of patients with rectal cancer will find this book interesting and helpful."

This book, written by respected experts, discusses in detail the latest developments in targeted oncology therapy using small molecules. It covers a wide range of small molecules, including tyrosine kinase inhibitors, mTOR, MEK, PARP, and multikinase inhibitors, as well as cell cycle and NTRK interacting agents. For each molecule, aspects such as the chemical structure, mechanism of action, drug targets, drug interactions, preclinical studies, clinical trials, treatment applications, and toxicity are discussed. Extensive research into the molecular mechanisms of cancer has heralded a new age of targeted therapy. The field of personalized cancer therapy is now growing rapidly, and the advances being made will mean significant changes in the treatment algorithms for cancer patients. Numerous novel targets that are crucial for the survival of cancer cells can be attacked by small molecules such as protein tyrosine kinase inhibitors. This book is the third edition of Small Molecules in Oncology, but has now been divided into two volumes, with the other volume focusing specifically on small molecules in hematology.

Breast Cancer: A New Era in Management provides a compendium of succinct analysis of the many facets involved in the present day management of the breast cancer patient. The text provides the clinician or student with basic foundational knowledge in the rapidly expanding areas of expertise that are required for both the diagnosis and treatment of the breast cancer patient. Each topic, whether diagnostic or therapeutic, is presented in a straightforward fashion incorporating as part of each topic a description of the historical clinical landmarks leading to the present day, their present day position in the care of the breast patient, and finally, an assessment of possible future application and adaptation in clinical practice. Emphasis is placed on clear and concise explanations of each topic presented in stepwise fashion from fundamental elements to the more complex. Breast Cancer: A New Era in Management will act as a ready reference for the practicing surgeon and students seeking practical information on a particular clinical topic or scenario.

General Principles of Tumor Immunotherapy: Basic and Clinical Applications of Tumor Immunology brings together the world's leading authorities on tumor immunology. This book describes the basic immunology principles that form the foundation of understanding how the immune system recognizes and rejects tumor cells. The role of the innate and adaptive immune responses is discussed and the implications of these responses for the design of clinical strategies to combat cancer are illustrated through both experimental clinical trials and review of current standard of care therapeutic agents. This information will be invaluable to both students of immunology and cancer research and practicing physicians who have patients with cancer. The book provides a comprehensive overview of the field, demonstrates how advances in basic immunology can and are being applied to cancer, and describes the current status of approved immunotherapy regimens.

The relationship between oncologists and their cancer patients is rapidly evolving. Oncologists and other cancer professionals master new anticancer and supportive treatment options, while working under increasing economic pressure and time constraints, and are often unprepared to deal with all the challenges of their new position in a therapeutic relationship with cancer patients and families. Good communication is as essential as are modern laboratory tests and sophisticated diagnostics to achieve the best clinical results. This book updates the evolution of truth-telling and communication patterns worldwide and offers insights into the recent trends and emerging challenges in communication with cancer patients and families. New Challenges in Communication with Cancer Patients is an invaluable resource to medical professionals, educators and patients in establishing a strong and effective partnership built on trust and mutual understanding.

This book presents an overview of the most important current developments in the pre-analytical handling of tissue. It addresses in particular potential ways to improve the situation whereby methods employed in the pre-analytical phase - the period from surgical removal of tissue to the start of pathological processing - have remained essentially unchanged for decades with only modest standardization. It is examined how the pre-analytical period can be optimized, resulting not only in an increase in diagnostic quality but also in a reduction in processing time and costs. Among the key topics examined are the so-called cold ischemia time between tissue removal and fixation, the potential superiority of vacuum-based preservation over immediate formalin fixation, two-temperature fixation, molecular analysis methods, and the pre-analytics of specimens from particular tissues. Readers will find this book to be an important update that reveals the full importance of the pre-analytical phase for quality of pathological work-up.

This book discusses emerging nanotechnology-based tools that have the potential to dramatically impact cancer research, diagnostics, and treatment. Cancer is a complex, devastating, and debilitating disease and, although much progress has been made, novel, more effective diagnostic and treatment options are still needed, especially for advanced cancers. The ultimate goal is to detect cancer early and non-invasively and to provide efficacious and targeted precision treatments that cause fewer harmful side effects. This book explains how nanotechnology can exploit the size-, shape-, and composition-dependent properties of nanomaterials to provide novel tools for precision cancer medicine. It will be of interest to researchers and professionals working in the fields of chemistry, biology, materials science and engineering, and medicine who want to learn more about this fascinating and fast-paced area of research.

This book provides a state-of-the-art approach to the molecular basis of hematologic diseases and its translation into improved diagnostics and novel therapeutic strategies. Several representative hemato-oncologic malignancies are analyzed in detail: acute lymphoblastic leukemia, acute myeloid leukemia, B-cell Non-Hodgkin lymphomas, multiple myeloma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, chronic myeloid leukemia, myelodysplastic syndromes, and myeloproliferative neoplasms. Experts in the field describe the molecular methods applied for modern diagnostics and therapies, such as hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, donor recipient matching, banking of biological material, analyses of post-transplant chimerism, and minimal residual disease monitoring. The volume concludes with an extensive section comprising thorough step-by-step protocols of molecular techniques in hematology, all of them validated in the authors own laboratories.

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This book highlights the unique aspects of oncologic ophthalmology as a medical and surgical discipline practiced at a comprehensive cancer center. Multi-disciplinary management of ocular, orbital and adnexal cancers are highlighted using simple and tried-and-true algorithms. In addition, ocular problems caused as a direct result of cancer treatment are reviewed using illustrative photographs and case presentations. The content is provided by full-time ophthalmology faculty and fellows at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. Experts in complementary disciplines such as ophthalmic pathology, dermatopathology, radiation oncology, radiology, and other surgical subspecialties have brought their unique perspective to each chapter. The book is abundant with clinical photographs as well as interesting case presentations that will help the clinician correctly diagnose cancers of the orbit, eye, and adnexal structures, initiate appropriate management, as well as recognize and treat common ocular complications of cancer therapy.

This volume explores various approaches for enrichment, detection, isolation, and molecular profiling of circulating tumor cells (CTCs). Each chapter provides comprehensive descriptions and guidelines on how to perform innovative experiments in CTC research. Included are protocols for capture of CTCs via filtration and density gradient centrifugation; microfluidic and immunomagnetic separation of CTCs; detection of CTCs by immunocytochemistry, fluorescence in situ hybridization, and flow cytometry; assays designed for genomic characterization and functional analyses of CTCs, and many more. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, the chapters in this book 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 authoritative, Circula ting Tumor Cells: Methods and Protocols is a valuable resource for laboratory researchers and clinicians who are interested in furthering their studies on CTCs.

This unique book focuses on the non-myeloma plasma cell dyscrasias. A key resource for this group of diseases, the book features the latest in emerging knowledge and therapeutic developments, including novel therapies. Each disease-specific chapter discusses biology, disease course, and appropriate therapeutic interventions, covering plasma cell leukemia, plasmacytoma, POEMS Syndrome and Castleman's Disease, Waldenstroem macroglobulinemia, immunoglobin deposition disease, and cryoglobulinemic syndromes, among others. The only book dedicated to this intriguing family of diseases, Biology and Management of Unusual Plasma Cell Dyscrasias will be a long-lasting reference for clinicians and scientists alike.

Imaging in Oncology will serve as an up-to-date, attractive book of oncologic imaging for radiologists, oncologists, radiation therapists and others involved in oncologic care. This volume provides pertinent clinical and research information that underpins accurate interpretation and sensible use of cancer imaging. It reviews the role of established and upcoming techniques in plain radiography, ultrasound, CT, MR nuclear medicine, PET and PET/CT for oncologic imaging as well as image-guided intervention. The book also highlights new developments and advances in oncologic imaging. Imaging in Oncology will appeal to physicians in practice and in training and to all interested in oncologic imaging.

The Advances in Cancer Research series provides invaluable information on the exciting and fast-moving field of cancer research. This volume presents outstanding and original reviews on a variety of topics including NY-ESO-1: review of an immunogenic tumor antigen; Order, disorder, death: lessons from a superorganism; Control of differentiation in progression of epithelial tumors; Cancer vaccines: preclinical studies and novel strategies; Clinical results of vaccine therapy for cancer: learning from history for improving the future; Immunodominance and immunodomination: critical factors in developing effective CD8+ T-cell based cancer vaccines; NK cell receptors as tools in cancer immunotherapy; Innate immune recognition and suppression of tumors; Inhibitors of the HSP90 molecular chaperone: current status.