This book is the record of the proceedings of a NATO Advanced Study Institute held in Erice, Sicily, from the 2nd - 12th June 1981, during which scientists and clinicians interested in the problems presented by cancer of the kidney and the prostate were encouraged to present, to discuss and to challenge the opinions expressed and the beliefs held by the different contributors. It is uncommon for scientist, physician, and surgeon to meet with great regularity or for prolonged periods of time and it must be exceedingly rare for such people to immerse themselves in each other's work and company for aperiod of almost two weeks. For this to occur in a situation of total isolation such as that provided by the marvellous Ettore Majorana Centre in Erice, Sicily must be unique. The fact that differences of opinion remain will be evident to all who read the book, as will the wealth of scientific and clinical work being undertaken within and beyond the NATO countries. We are very much indebted to the Science Committee of NATO for their recommendation for support for this meeting and to the Ente Fiuggi and to several pharmaceutical firms.

This volume is a report of the proceedings of the Third International Nephro-Lrological Course held in the Ettore Majorana Centre for Scientific Culture, Erice, Sicily, from 12th to 18th May 1980. Contributions were accepted on the understanding that the editors could make certain changes leading towards a uniformity of style but accepting as a Driority the importance of early publi- cation, if necessary at the expense of stylistic perfection. The meeting, directed by A. Vercellone (Torino), R. Maiorca (Brescia) and M. Pavone-Macaluso (Palermo), was sponsored by: the Italian Associations of Nephrology, Immunology and Urology; the Ministries of Scientific Research and Public Education of the Republic of Italy; the Sicilian Regional Government; the National Research Council and the University of Palermo. Immunologic problems in renal disease Rnd metabolic and medical aspects of urolithiasis were the two subjects of the Congress, which was attended by numerous invi~ed speakers and participants. The first part was introduced by A. Vercellone (Torino), who discussed the major steps in the development and the present per- spectives of nephrology, a relatively newly born science, recognized as such only in 1960. He called attention to the great significance of our present knowledge of the immunologic mechanisms (circulating immune complexes or in situ mounting, cellular immunity, activation of complement) which are involved in the pathogenesis of glomerulo- nephritis.