This volume is a compendium of knowledge relating to the biology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, and genetics of lipoxygenases and their products, edited as proceedings of an International Congress held in Malta in the summer of 1997. The aim of the book is to broaden the existing knowledge on lipoxygenases and metabolites and to identify directions for future research. Papers based on the Congress lectures are gathered together here under three general headings: enzymology, molecular biology and biological functions of mammalian lipoxygenases; metabolic regulation of lipoxygenases and lipoxygenase inhibitors; and products of the lipoxygenase pathways and their receptors, which present forward-looking presentations.

Since their discovery over 60 years ago, eicosanoids have come to represent a diverse family of bioactive lipid modulators, including prostaglandins, thromboxanes, leukotrienes, lipoxins, isoprostanes, hepoxilins, hydroxy acids, epoxy and hydroxy fatty acids. This book contains conference presentations regarding the regulation of eicosanoid enzymes and, in particular, cyclooxygenases, lipoxygenases, and phospholipases. In addition, the latest evidence over the last seven years has led to the identification of a number of receptors for these bioactive lipids. The new field of isoprostanes is also represented. It has become increasingly evident that eicosanoids play a critical role in signal transduction, both in normal cells and in pathological processes. These aspects are discussed in relation to cellular events, such as apoptosis, angiogenesis, and cancer prevention and treatment.

This book records the proceedings of the 5th International Symposium on cancer topics organised in collaboration with the Association for International Cancer Research, a cancer charity based in the United Kingdom. The Symposium was held at the Klinikum Steglitz, Free University of West Berlin, Germany, between 1 and 3 October 1987. The Organising and Scientific Committees are deeply grateful to the President of the Free University, Professor Heckelmann, for allowing us to meet in the Klinikum Steglitz and for the University's generous financial support. It was a special pleasure to have a positive and generous input from the West Berlin Senate. Their support was crucial in making the Symposium a scientific success. The Symposium received financial support from a number of sponsors, and we are indeed happy to acknowledge our gratitude to them: Behringwerke AG, Bert- hold AG, Boehringer Mannheim GmbH, the British Council, Deutsche Abbott GmbH, Deutsche Bank AG, Du Pont De Nemours GmbH, Knoll AG, Krewel- werke GmbH, Nunc GmbH, Schering AG, Schwarz GmbH and Varian GmbH. The Symposium was the most ambitious so far mounted by the Association for International Cancer Research. The organisation and planning were carried through by an Organising Committee including Professor J. Hammerstein, Profes- sor K. D. Asmus, Barbara Steiger and Renate Nigam. The Scientific Committee included Dr. D. C. H. McBrien, Professor T. Dormandy, Professor K. R. Rees, Pro- fessor M. U. Dianzani and Professor H. Esterbauer. We thank these colleagues very much for their dedication, hard work and expert input.