An explosion of information has occurred since scientists began to define the molecular events that describe the malignant transformation and progression of cells and their development towards a life-threatening metastatic disease. The First International Congress on Molecular Staging of Cancer, held in Munich in December 2001, aimed to establish an international platform of exchange among molecular biologists, cell biologists, tumor immunologists, and clinical and surgical oncologists. This network approach should be fruitful for both clinicians and researchers. The highlighted topics included tumor-associated proteolysis, minimal residual disease, new approaches for molecular diagnosis and targeting, and the first molecular staging models. One session focused on technology transfer, opening up a new field of funding for innovative concepts. Finally, the impact of molecular staging on clinical strategies was discussed.

Whenever the integrity of the skin is impaired, via trauma or surgical incision, wounds und wound healing are the natural consequences. Thus, every physician should be interested in the biological processes involved in wound healing. The physician does not usually interfere with these natural processes, knowing that the body heals itself (natura sanat). It is not until the natural wound healing process is disturbed, that we realize how little we know about this area. Our limited knowledge is not even available to most physicians. Advances in the areas of cell-and molecular biology have also resulted in substantial progress in the field of wound healing. Today, we know that the process of tissue repair occurs in three phases and is controlled by specific cells. These cells release potent mediators which in turn regulate the function of other cells surrounding the area. "Certain rules apply to the healing of wounds and injured tissue. You must follow nature for nature will never follow you," this sentence writen by Paracelsus in his book "Chirurgia magna" is still valid today. Current reseach in wound healing is exploring these rules and integrating them into new therapeutical concepts. The purpose of this book is to make current knowledge on basic healing processes, research in this area and on wound management available to most physicians. Due to the importance of wound healing and the successful combination of basic science and clinical aspects, I would like this book to be widely accepted.

It is a great pleasure and honor to be asked to participate in the translation of this important and historical volume on thoracic surgery and to provide this foreword. Martin Kirschner of Mannheim/Heidelberg was an early pioneer in thoracic and esophageal surgery. His operation for bypass of the esophagus using the entire stomach remains a standard of the surgical armamentarium to this date. The original Kirschner Textbook of Surgery was a standard in its day. We are fortunate that Professors H. Pichlmaier and F.W. Schildberg and other colleagues have provided us with this important modern successor of a classic textbook. The reader is rewarded by an extensive treatise which includes not only the most up to date techniques in pulmonary, esophageal, mediastinal, and chest wall (including breast) surgery but also provides an excellent perspective on the techniques used by pioneers in the field. Although some of these early techniques are not commonly used today, knowledge of their use and application broadens the capability of the thoracic surgeon. Changing times bring renewed problems with infectious diseases. Knowledge of the management of the pleural space and pulmonary infectious problems is a critical part of the education of the thoracic surgeon.

Die Neuauflage dieses Standardwerkes der 50er Jahre ist vollst{ndig }berrarbeitet. Sie umfa t vom Stellenwert der pr{operativen Kernspintomographie bis zu den Ergebnissen der klinischen Lungentransplantation alle Aspekte der Thorax- chirurgie. Die zahlreichen Abbildungen operativer Details werden neben Chirurgen auch Pulmologen, Anaesthesiologen und Radiologen interessieren.

In kaum einem Bereich der Medizin sind experimentelle und klinische Forschung so eng miteinander verknupft wie in der Chirurgie. Ange- fangen von Untersuchungen zu verschiedenen Naht- und Anastomo- senmethoden bis zu weitreichenden Verfahren der Herz-Lungen- Maschinenanwendung, der Organkonservierung und schliesslich der Organtransplantation sind die engen Verflechtungen von Experi- ment und klinischer Anwendung offensichtlich. Immer wenn experi- mentelle Grundlagen in die Klinik ubertragen werden, mussen exakte UEberprufungen der erwarteten Ergebnisse mit ihren Auswir- kungen auf den Kranken in ihr Recht treten. Wie weit hier retro- spektive Untersuchungen ausreichen oder prospektiven Studien grundsatzlich der Vorrang gebuhrt, ist immer wieder Gegenstand der Diskussion. In einem ersten Teil werden diese und ahnliche Grundsatzfragen chirurgischer Forschung von verschiedenen Standpunkten aus einge- hend beleuchtet, gefolgt von speziellen Darstellungen exemplari- schen Charakters aus fast allen Bereichen der Chirurgie. Dabei konnte Vollstandigkeit nicht angestrebt werden. Die Vielfalt der Aussagen lasst dennoch klare Konturen erkennen und gibt Richtun- gen fur kunftige Forschungen an. Es liegt in der Natur der Sache, dass die Verflechtungen mit vielen Nachbardisziplinen deutlich werden. Georg Heberers besonderes Interesse galt stets der Grundlagen- forschung in der Chirurgie sowie der Pathophysiologie des opera- tiven Eingriffs und seiner Folgen. Es lag deshalb nahe, ihm zu sei- nem 65. Geburtstag ein Symposium zum Thema "Stand und Gegen- stand chirurgischer Forschung" zu widmen. Die dabei gehaltenen Vortrage bilden den Kern des nun vorliegenden Buches gleichen Titels. Mitaufgenommen wurden zahlreiche Einzelbeitrage seiner Schuler und Freunde aus speziellen Gebieten, damit die Breite chir- urgischer Forschung an einzelnen Beispielen sichtbar wird.