Gene expression studies have revealed diagnostic profiles and upregulation of specific pathways in many solid tumors. The explosion of new information in gene expression profiling could potentially lead to the development of tailored treatments in many solid tumors. In addition many studies are ongoing to validate these signatures also in predicting response to hormonal, chemotherapeutic and targeted agents in breast cancer as well as in other tumors. Diagnostic, Prognostic and Therapeutic Value of Gene Signatures provides readers a useful and comprehensive resource about the range of applications of microarray technology in oncological diseases. Topics covered include gene signatures and soft tissue sarcomas, prognostic relevance of breast cancer signatures, gene expression profiling of colorectal cancer and liver metastasis, gene signatures in GISTs, CNVs and gene expression profiles in pancreatic cancer, and gene signatures in head/neck, lung and gastric tumors. Diagnostic, Prognostic and Therapeutic Value of Gene Signatures will be of great value to residents and fellows, physicians, pathologists and medical oncologists.

Basic research discusses the implication of pancreatic stress protein in acute pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer and their possible role as therapeutic targets. Also, very original results show the unexpected role of lipids as mediators during acute pancreatitis. Gene screening strategies allow the detection of the genes responsbile for gemcitabine resistance of pancreatic cancer cells. They lead to the selection of several target genes, in order to suppress the resistance of cells to gemcitabine treatment. The mechanism by which tetrahydrocannabinol is anti-tumoral in pancreatic cancer cells is presented and the use of THC as a promising new therapeutic agent is discussed.

Genetic data are shown concerning hundreds of families with hereditary chronic pancreatitis and their possible role in the pathogenesis of the disease. Another very original study addresses the prevention and treatment of pancreatic diseases with diat.

In clinical research, convincing data about the use of endoscopic sphicterotomy in the management of acute bilary pancreatitis is presented, based on the experience of a Center highly specialized in pancreatic diseases.

Gene expression studies have revealed diagnostic profiles and upregulation of specific pathways in many solid tumors. The explosion of new information in gene expression profiling could potentially lead to the development of tailored treatments in many solid tumors. In addition many studies are ongoing to validate these signatures also in predicting response to hormonal, chemotherapeutic and targeted agents in breast cancer as well as in other tumors. Diagnostic, Prognostic and Therapeutic Value of Gene Signatures provides readers a useful and comprehensive resource about the range of applications of microarray technology in oncological diseases. Topics covered include gene signatures and soft tissue sarcomas, prognostic relevance of breast cancer signatures, gene expression profiling of colorectal cancer and liver metastasis, gene signatures in GISTs, CNVs and gene expression profiles in pancreatic cancer, and gene signatures in head/neck, lung and gastric tumors. Diagnostic, Prognostic and Therapeutic Value of Gene Signatures will be of great value to residents and fellows, physicians, pathologists and medical oncologists.

In September 2007, several experts in the field of pancreatic pathophysiology, awarded by NATO Science Committee, met in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, to present their most recent data and discuss about basic, genetic, clinical and surgical aspects of pancreatic diseases.

In basic research, the implication of pancreatic stress proteins in acute pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer and their possible role as therapeutic targets were reported. Also, very original results showing the unexpected role of lipids as nefast mediators during acute pancreatitis were described. Gene screening strategies allowing detection of the genes responsible for gemcitabine resistance of pancreatic cancer cells were presented. They led to the selection of several target genes, in order to suppress the resistance of cells to gemcitabine treatment. The mechanism by which tetrahydrocannabinol is anti-tumoral in pancreatic cancer cells was presented and the use of THC as a promising new therapeutic agent was discussed. Genetic data were shown concerning hundreds of families with hereditary chronic pancreatitis and their possible role in the pathogenesis of the disease was analyzed. Another very original study addressed the prevention and treatment of pancreatic diseases with diet. In clinical research, convincing data about the use of endoscopic sphincterotomy in the management of acute biliary pancreatitis were presented. Finally, most recent consensus about indications for surgery in acute necrotizing pancreatitis were presented, based on the experience of a Center highly specialized in pancreatic diseases.