Precision medicine is rapidly becoming the standard-of-care for the treatment of cancer patients. Precision Medicine Oncology: A Primer is a concise review of the fundamental principles and applications of precision medicine, and intended for clinicians, particularly those working in the field of oncology.

A general introduction to the principles of diagnosis and treatment of children with brain tumors is presented. Molecular characterization of solid tumors is also presented. Molecular pathways provide putative targets for new therapies. High resolution magic spinning NMR spectroscopy is explained, which is used to determine metabolic profiles for small pieces of intact tissue and whole cells in culture. The differences between adult and pediatric brain tumors are outlined. It is emphasized that pediatric low-grade gliomas need lower doses of antidrugs such as cisplatin/etoposide. It is explained that tumor suppressor genes and oncogenes play a crucial role in the development and progression of human malignancies, including those in children. Neurofibromatosis type-1 is a common genetic disorder with a high prevalence in CNS abnormalities including tumors in children; which is discussed in detail. Various neuroradiological imaging modalities in children with leukemia are detailed. Also are detailed results of clinical trials in pediatric brain tumors, such as medulloblastoma, ependymoma, craniopharyngioma, low-grade glioma, high-grade glioma, brainstem glioma, and germ cell tumors, using radiotherapy. Considering the clinical importance of epilepsy in the primary brain tumors in children, its symptoms, diagnosis, and treatments (surgery and antiepileptic drugs) are discussed.

This full-colour, richly-illustrated book is an excellent source of rapidly retrievable information on aspects of relevance in daily clinical practice in the outpatient breast clinic. Expert guidance is provided on a full range of topics, including pitfalls of clinical examination, imaging and related tissue diagnosis, approaches to management decision-making in different disorders, the role of surgery and adjuvant therapy, follow-up and rehabilitation. In outpatient breast clinics, effective communication with patients must be established in order to address symptoms that in most cases are not serious but can be very worrying and sometimes lead to misdiagnosis and also to litigation. Outpatient consultations also offer an opportunity to encourage a healthy lifestyle and to provide information on matters such as risk assessment, screening and the most reliable websites. A well-functioning outpatient clinic is essential to a breast unit's overall proficiency. Readers will find this book an invaluable aid to good practice. The authors place particular emphasis on quality indicators and key priorities for implementation of the main guidelines, at the same time specifying the level of evidence for them and degree of recommendation. Practical measures for achieving the best results are highlighted, and helpful advice is provided on optimizing patient communication and reducing the psychological burden.

Bone and soft tissue sarcomas represent only about 2% of all malignancies; however, their treatment with the goal of curing the patient while preserving the functionality of the affected body part can, unlike other malignancies, only be successful with therapy concepts devised by interdisciplinary teams. This volume provides an extensive up-to-date overview of the specific diagnostics and current treatment standards of these rare entities, presenting the various limb-sparing modalities for patients with bone and soft tissue sarcomas with special regard to innovative reconstructive options. The evaluation of quality of life based on validated scores and the individual methods of coping with the illness through creative artistic projects are also acknowledged and integrated in the whole concept.

Manual of Total Mesorectal Excision is the authoritative manual for the trainee and qualified surgeon, covering every aspect of total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer.

• Written by the surgeons who pioneered and popularized TME
• Includes high-quality colour illustrations to detail the multidisciplinary management of rectal cancer
• Endorsed by the Pelican Foundation, the leading organization for research on bowel cancer surgery
• Incorporates state-of-the-art pre-operative staging, optimal surgical excision by TME surgery, and quality control and audit of outcomes by detailed pathological assessment of the resected specimen

The first book dedicated to this procedure, Manual of Total Mesorectal Excision is an invaluable resource for all medical professionals with an interest in the management of rectal cancer.

Each year, almost twenty million people worldwide receive the grim diagnosis of cancer, yet few are prepared for the difficult emotional journey ahead. Shortly after Dr. Charles Hayter graduated as a cancer specialist, his father was diagnosed with terminal cancer. As with many doctors, he found that his medical training did not prepare him for the anguish and turmoil he witnessed in himself, his patients, and their loved ones - anguish often worsened by the stigma and shame surrounding cancer and radiation. In Cancer Confidential, Dr. Hayter shares behind-the-scenes stories of people dealing with cancer and death - often through avoidance, denial, and conflict, but also as shining examples of quiet courage, resilience, and humour. The backdrop for the stories is the specialty of radiation oncology. One in three cancer patients will receive radiation therapy, yet it remains a mysterious and often maligned area of medicine. Told in a vivid, dramatic style, Cancer Confidential sheds light on this poorly understood field and reveals intimate stories of individuals and their families in difficult circumstances. It will lend insight, compassion, and support to anyone facing the diagnosis of cancer.

Brain tumors are the most common solid tumor of childhood as well as the leading cause of cancer-related mortality in children. This third volume of the Springer series discussing pediatric cancer focuses on diagnosing, treating, and assessing the future course of malignant brain neoplasms in children. In addition to a general introduction to the principals involved, the material includes vital research in molecular genetics, a major contribution to the molecular characterization of solid tumors, which will define new biomarkers of the disease and identify molecular pathways. Now it has become possible to achieve the goal of targeting new, more effective therapies to minimize the tragedy faced by children. This research features the application of molecular genetics in combating atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor (AT/RT), a highly aggressive embryonal CNS tumor that is among the most common malignant neoplasms in children, with a peak occurrence in infants younger than three years old. Contributors also examine the reasons for the common misdiagnosis of AT/RT tumors as other types of CNS tumors. They help resolve this issue by indicating the details of an abnormality in the genetics of AT/RT, which is unique to AT/RT type. The INII gene on chromosome 22q11 is involved in the AT/RT. The presence of this gene and the SMARCB1 is discussed. In addition to discussing these important topics, the volume includes presentations of present and future therapies. The volume also explains AT/RT's dissemination to the cerebral fluid, the molecular mechanisms underlying the progression of medulloblastoma, and the importance of gamma knife radiosurgery during multimodality management of medulloblastoma/PNET tumors. Other topics discussed include using magnetic resonance imaging for diagnosing retinoblastoma, and mapping the effects of radiotherapy in low-grade glioma in children. Information on alterations in cell-cycle regulators that are influenced by tumor suppressor genes and oncogenes is detailed. Contributors provide recommendations concerning non-narcotic analgesic routines for children recovering from cranial and spinal surgery. The practical knowledge of frontier-expanding research presented leads this authoritative volume to be a compelling addition to the literature.

Tumors involving peripheral nerves may be extremely challenging lesions to diagnose and treat. In order to optimize their management, physicians should have a thorough knowledge of peripheral nerve anatomy and pathology (both gross and microscopic), as well as familiarity with microsurgical techniques and intraoperative neurophysiological recording. This compendium deals with all aspects of tumors affecting peripheral nerves, from diagnosis to treatment; the topics it addresses range from epidemiology, anatomy, physiology, pathology, and clinical diagnosis to electrophysiology, imaging, genetic/cytomolecular aspects. Surgical approaches, biopsies and resection of various benign, malignant and pseudo-tumoral lesions, plexus tumors (both brachial and lumbosacral), and adjunctive treatment modalities and pain-related issues are described in detail. The book is intended not only for neurosurgeons, hand surgeons, plastic and orthopedic surgeons new to the field, but also for seasoned specialists who wish to update their knowledge with new insights based on robust experimental and clinical material. In addition, it will be a helpful tool for general and oncological surgeons who are sometimes faced with the treatment of mass lesions that may be potential nerve tumors, and for all practitioners who are engaged in the arduous struggle to bring relief to patients affected by these lesions.

Despite the rising popularity of the minimally invasive laparoscopic option, open nephron-sparing surgery is still seen by many experts as the 'gold standard' for open surgery for kidney tumors and should remain the first choice for many patients. This challenges the idea that less-invasive therapies are always more desirable than open surgery. While laparoscopic nephron-sparing surgery may be a more attractive option for treating small, easily accessible kidney tumors, for large tumors this is not always the case. Nephron-sparing surgery is a outstanding text that analyses all forms of surgery, open or laparoscopic, as well as providing a backdrop on renal cell carcinoma in general, and the complications and outcomes following surgery that both surgeon and patient will face. Featuring 100 colour photos, the text includes chapters on: Imaging renal masses: current status Open nephron-sparing surgery for renal cell carcinoma Minimally invasive approaches for renal cell carcinoma: an overview Laparoscopic partial nephrectomy Controversies in nephron-sparing surgery Renal cell carcinoma: long-term outcome following nephron-sparing surgery Dr Sasidharan and Professor Soloway have created a superb text covering all aspects of nephron-sparing surgery that should provide excellent guidance for all those who are just beginning to perform nephron-sparing surgery or act as an aide-memoire for those familiar with nephron-sparing surgery.

This volume provides a broad background of the basic sciences, clinical and therapeutic aspects, and management of uterine cervical cancer. It offers state-of-the-art information on the molecular genetics, biology, and clinical aspects of premalignant lesions of the uterine cervix, and provides a better understanding of the molecular and cellular events that underlie uterine cervical cancer. Uterine Cervical Cancer: Clinical and Therapeutic Perspectives contains extensive, updated information on the promising new developments in the diagnosis and management of uterine cervical cancer. It will serve as an invaluable resource for all clinicians and basic medical scientists caring for women with uterine cervical cancer, including attending surgeons, physicians, clinical fellows, and residents in the disciplines of gynecologic oncology, medical oncology, and surgical oncology.

Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) has emerged as an important innovative treatment for various primary and metastatic cancers. This book provides a comprehensive and up-to-date account of the physical/technological, biological, and clinical aspects of SBRT. It will serve as a detailed resource for this rapidly developing treatment modality. The organ sites covered include lung, liver, spine, pancreas, prostate, adrenal, head and neck, and female reproductive tract. Retrospective studies and prospective clinical trials on SBRT for various organ sites from around the world are examined, and toxicities and normal tissue constraints are discussed. This book features unique insights from world-renowned experts in SBRT from North America, Asia, and Europe. It will be necessary reading for radiation oncologists, radiation oncology residents and fellows, medical physicists, medical physics residents, medical oncologists, surgical oncologists, and cancer scientists.

This important book provides up-to-date information on a series of topical issues relating to the approach to minimal residual disease in breast cancer patients. It first explains how the study of minimal residual disease and circulating and disseminated tumor cells (CTCs/DTCs) can assist in the understanding of breast cancer metastasis. A series of chapters then discuss the various technologies available for the detection and characterization of CTCs and DTCs, pinpointing their merits and limitations. Detailed consideration is given to the relevance of CTCs and DTCs, and their detection, to clinical research and practice. The role of other blood-based biomarkers is also addressed, and the closing chapters debate the challenges facing drug and biomarker co-development and the use of CTCs for companion diagnostic development. This book will be of interest and assistance to all who are engaged in the modern management of breast cancer.

This volume provides a comprehensive review and detailed description of surgical techniques for prostate cancer surgery. All aspects are covered, including surgical anatomy and methods of transrectal ultrasound guided prostate biopsies, step-by-step approach techniques for radical prostatectomy, and the latest data on outcomes. Furthermore, limitations as well as tips and tricks are detailed in addition to management of common complications. Lastly, with the increasing use of ablative therapy and brachytherapy, the mechanism of action as well as the keys to obtaining optimal outcomes are illustrated. Surgical Techniques for Prostate Cancer is a concise and valuable resource to surgeons that documents the different approaches to prostate cancer surgery.

This fourth volume in the series Methods of Cancer Diagnosis, Therapy and Prognosis discusses various methodologies for the diagnosis, therapy and prognosis of Colorectal Cancer. Both standard and emerging therapies for this cancer, written by expert oncologists/pathologists in this field, are included. This fully illustrated volume * Presents surgical, radiological, and molecular therapies and prognostic markers for colorectal cancer. * Highlights a large number of methods for diagnosing colorectal cancer at various stages of development, including immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization immunoscintigraphy, RT- PCR, free circulating DNA levels in blood and stool, ultrasonography, CT, PET, and MRI. * Includes imaging technologies for assessing the treatment results, as are details related to colonoscopy and sigmoidoscopy. * Explains the use of anticancer agents and monoclonal antibodies, including 5-fluorouracil, fluoropyrimidines, leucovorin, irinotecan, oxaliplatin, raltitrexed, capecitabine, cetuximab, and bevacizumab. * Compares preoperative chemoradiotherapy with postoperative chemoradiotherpy. The technological advances presented in this volume are expected to expedite new discoveries and their translation to clinical practice. Oncology will benefit the most from these advanced methods, as a combination of therapies and personalized medicine will improve early detection of colorectal cancer and other cancer types. Professor Hayat has summarized the problems associated with the complexities of research publications and has been successful in editinga must-read volume for oncologists, cancer researchers, medical teachers and students of cancer biology.

Manfred Georg Krukemeyer first describes magnetic drug targeting, by which is meant the focused application of drugs, e.g. the introduction of a cytostatic, and which is aimed at optimising its locally therapeutic effect. The author thus achieves a high concentration of cytostatic at the site of the tumour. The particles have to be large enough to be attracted by a magnetic field and so find their way into the tumour, where they release their active ingredient. The aim of the hypothesis formed by one of the author's study groups was to show in a scientific experiment that in this case cytostatics coupled with iron particles [Fe3O4] can be introduced into a tumour. The focused introduction of drugs - magnetic drug targeting - results in faster arrival of the active ingredient at the target site together with a reduced quantity of active substances. For this reason magnetic drug targeting is also interesting from an economic point of view.

This open access book looks at the dramatic history of ovariotomy, an operation to remove ovarian tumours first practiced in the early nineteenth century. Bold and daring, surgeons who performed it claimed to be initiating a new era of surgery by opening the abdomen. Ovariotomy soon occupied a complex position within medicine and society, as an operation which symbolised surgical progress, while also remaining at the boundaries of ethical acceptability. This book traces the operation's innovation, from its roots in eighteenth-century pathology, through the denouncement of those who performed it as 'belly-rippers', to its rapid uptake in the 1880s, when ovariotomists were accused of over-operating. Throughout the century, the operation was never a hair's breadth from controversy.

This issue of Surgical Oncology Clinics of North America, guest edited by Dr. Mark Arnold, is devoted to Colon Cancer. Dr. Arnold has assembled expert authors to review the following topics: Chemotherapy for Colon Cancer; Colon Cancer: What We Eat; Colon Cancer: Inflammatory Associated Cancer; Colon Cancer: The Imaging Conundrum; Minimally Invasive Surgical Approaches to Colon Cancer; Population Screening for Hereditary Colorectal Cancer; The Economics of Colon Cancer; Clinical Trials in Colon Cancer; Advanced Colonoscopic Techniques; Surgical Treatment of Metastatic Disease; The Metastatic Lymph Node; and more!

This book provides a state-of-the-art review of the role of radiation therapy in various pelvic malignancies as well as the consequences of the radiation in the pelvic tissues. With sections covering the role of radiation therapy in the various pelvic malignancies, the pathophysiology of radiation related injury and the risk factors that increase the possibility of such an injury, and the latest in medical, endoscopic and surgical therapies for these radiation related complications the text offers a concise yet comprehensive overview of radiation therapy in the human pelvis, its role and the adverse effects on the pelvic organs. Written by experts in the field with readers in mind, Radiation Therapy for Pelvic Malignancy and its Consequences is the first of its kind standalone reference on the subject. Radiation Therapy for Pelvic Malignancy and its Consequences is of great value to urologists, medical radiation and gynecological oncologists, and gastroenterologists.

This text provides a comprehensive overview of orthopaedic oncology – the field of orthopaedic surgery that specializes in the evaluation and treatment of bone and soft tissue tumors of the musculoskeletal system. The opening chapters cover musculoskeletal imaging interpretation and the principles of musculoskeletal biopsy. Assessment and treatment of the full range of tumors are then described in a series of well-illustrated chapters. Detailed consideration is given to benign tumors, osteosarcomas, Ewing sarcomas, chondrosarcomas, metastatic bone disease of the axial and appendicular skeleton, and soft tissue sarcomas. This book will be invaluable for both orthopaedic surgeons and medical oncologists, providing a framework for understanding the fundamentals of these tumors and a sound basis for their treatment.

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 presents the most recent developments in oncologic breast surgery and takes full account of diagnostic, pathologic, and radiologic inputs. It is divided into three parts, the first of which discusses the premises underlying the modern surgical approach to breast cancer. The second part is devoted to what might be termed the conservative program, i.e., breast conservation and oncoplastic surgery, conservative mastectomy, and sentinel node biopsy and axillary dissection. The final part of the book covers different forms of surgery and other treatments in particular settings. Topics include plastic and reconstructive surgery, DCIS surgery, radio-guided surgery, adjuvant systemic therapy, intraoperative radiotherapy, and the role of surgery in locally advanced and metastatic disease. The detailed descriptions of techniques are accompanied by numerous high-quality illustrations. This book will be of value to both experienced practitioners and surgical trainees.    ​

Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) represent an opportunity to treat pancreatic tumors before they develop into aggressive, hard-to-treat cancers. Beginning with morphological classification and its clinical significance, natural history, and malignant change of both main duct and branch duct IPMNs, this book covers the whole field of IPMNs of the pancreas. It reviews the various methods of investigation: imaging, diagnostic investigation of cyst fluid, and those using pancreatic juice; and also examines aspects ranging from the development of malignancy to the timing and method of resection, focusing on both main duct and branch duct IPMNs. Aimed at residents, clinical fellows, and pancreatologists who treat patients with this common disease of the pancreas, this book is a landmark in the current understanding and future perspectives of IPMNs of the pancreas.

This is a novel text that highlights the controversial areas in the management of gynecological cancers. None of the topics in this book have definitive answers; they represent the everyday decision-making facing gynecologists, oncologists, radiologists, pathologists and other health professionals treating women with these conditions. This book is not to be used as a traditional textbook; it is a text that specialists and trainees will use to help them weigh up the arguments that exist in a variety of areas in the treatment of gynecological cancers. Each chapter will have two or more authors, selected either for their opposing views or for their ability to provide an opposite view or opinion to the other. The content will be evidence-based, illustrating contrasting evidence and scientific opinion in the literature. Each chapter will close on a summary indicating the direction of research needed to address the issues being discussed.

Primum non nocere... The fact that a surgical procedure can leave any kind of pain casts a shadow over this tenet, which is seen as the basis of medical practice and anchor of its principle ethic... It is all the more surprising in that medicine has only paid attention to this paradoxical chronic pain situation for the past few years. Clarifying the knowledge acquired in this field has become all the more urgent for any care-giver today confronted by a legitimate request from patients: Why and how can a surgical procedure, which is supposed to bring relief, leave behind an unacceptable sequela? This is the approach which the contributors to this new subject of major clinical interest invite you to follow as you work your way through this book.

This book is a concise guide to surgical oncology for clinicians. Each section is dedicated to operative procedures for a specific type of cancer, from breast, head and neck and urological, to gastrointestinal, bone and soft tissue, and more. Every chapter provides guidance on preoperative evaluation, appropriate types of anaesthesia, patient positioning, a step by step description of the procedure, and potential complications. Minimally invasive procedures are covered in detail. Key points including ‘dos and don’ts’ conclude each topic and the detailed text is enhanced by operative photographs, diagrams and tables to assist learning. Key Points Concise guide to operative surgical oncology Covers step by step procedures for many types of cancer Includes detailed discussion on minimally invasive procedures Each chapter summarised by key points including ‘dos and don’ts’