First book to apply the concept of SSL to the majority of human cancers Revolutionary new concept that might significantly transform surgical cancer treatment Focuses on cancer metastasis and explores the biological frontier of micro metastasis Includes illustrations by experts in the field on how to successfully perform SSL

This book details the anatomy and physiology of the lymphovascular system as well as describes the mechanisms of metastasis. It provides readers with an understanding of immune responses of draining lymph nodes against cancer. Coverage also explains the rationale of adopting molecular therapeutics against growth factor receptors, apoptotic factors, signaling pathways and angiogenesis.

Atlas of Selective Lymphadenectomy for Melanoma, Breast Cancer and Colon Cancer emphasizes a multidisciplinary approach combining the experiences of a nuclear medicine physician, surgeon, and pathologist. This is an important reference also for researchers and clinicians who want to become familiar with sentinel lymph node mapping. The underlying thesis in solid tumor biology is that metastasis in general starts in an orderly progression with lymphatic spread first to the sentinel lymph node (SLN) in the nearest lymph node basin. Therefore, the logical approach is to harvest that specific SLN for thorough analysis.

Sentinel lymph node (SLN) procedures have opened a window of opportunity for the study of micrometastasis. In eighty percent (80%) of metastasis there lies an orderly pattern of progression via the lymphatic network, while 20% of the time systemic metastasis occurs, bypassing the lymphatic system. During the past two decades, significant progress has been achieved in understanding the anatomical, functional, cellular and molecular aspects of the lymphovascular system and the metastasis process.

A- Molecular imaging advances help to localize early cancers more precisely.

A- Current status of the immune responses in the draining lymph nodes against cancer is summarized.

A- New paradigms of early cancer growth, proliferation, overcoming apoptosis are exploited in the development of anticancer treatment.

In this book, basic scientists and clinicians exchange ideas so that laboratory findings can be applied to clinical dilemmas, and clinical problems can be targeted for research in the laboratory.

Clinical trials remain the most important vehicle for improving the care of cancer patients. This text presents the fundamental components and challenges involving clinical investigations. Leading experts discuss the critical issues covering the spectrum of important topics from planning to application. The book has a foreword by Samuel A. Wells, Jr., MD, Professor of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, former Director of the American College of Surgeons and Founder of the American College of Surgeons Oncology Group.

Leading researchers and clinicians join forces to explain how malignant melanoma develops from its benign precursor cell type. The authors focus on the molecular mechanisms involved in melanogenesis, in the malignant transformation of melanocytes, and in the further progression of primary melanomas into invasive and metastatic melanomas. They also review recent advances in our understanding of the basic biology of melanocytes and the development, migration, and differentiation of melanoblasts into melanocytes. The book provides an up-to-date understanding of the progressive mechanisms of oncological development in malignant melanoma, a likely model of malignant progress for other types of cancer, and the ongoing development of novel therapeutics.

Atlas of Selective Lymphadenectomy for Melanoma, Breast Cancer and Colon Cancer emphasizes a multidisciplinary approach combining the experiences of a nuclear medicine physician, surgeon, and pathologist. This is an important reference also for researchers and clinicians who want to become familiar with sentinel lymph node mapping. The underlying thesis in solid tumor biology is that metastasis in general starts in an orderly progression with lymphatic spread first to the sentinel lymph node (SLN) in the nearest lymph node basin. Therefore, the logical approach is to harvest that specific SLN for thorough analysis.

Clinical trials remain the most important vehicle for improving the care of cancer patients. This text presents the fundamental components and challenges involving clinical investigations. Leading experts discuss the critical issues covering the spectrum of important topics from planning to application. The book has a foreword by Samuel A. Wells, Jr., MD, Professor of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, former Director of the American College of Surgeons and Founder of the American College of Surgeons Oncology Group.

Leading researchers and clinicians join forces to explain how malignant melanoma develops from its benign precursor cell type. The authors focus on the molecular mechanisms involved in melanogenesis, in the malignant transformation of melanocytes, and in the further progression of primary melanomas into invasive and metastatic melanomas. They also review recent advances in our understanding of the basic biology of melanocytes and the development, migration, and differentiation of melanoblasts into melanocytes. The book provides an up-to-date understanding of the progressive mechanisms of oncological development in malignant melanoma, a likely model of malignant progress for other types of cancer, and the ongoing development of novel therapeutics.

In human solid cancer, the lymph node (LN) status is the most important prognostic indicator for the clinical outcome of patients. Recent developments in the sentinel lymph node (SLN) concept and technology have resulted in the application of this revolutionary approach to define the first draining or SLN to which the cancer may have metastasized. The underlying thesis in solid cancer biology is that metastasis generally starts in an orderly progression, spreading through the lymphatic channels to the SLN in the nearest LN basin. Thus, the logical approach is to harvest that specific SLN for thorough analysis. Because a tumor-free SLN is usually associated with a negative residual LN basin, a negative SLN is an excellent indication that micrometastasis has not occurred in the regional LNs. When the SLN is involved, it is unknown whether or not metastasis is limited only to the SLN or if the disease has spread to the remainder of the nodal basin. For this reason, if an SLN is positive, a complete lymph node dissection is recommended. Therefore, selective sentinel lymphadenectomy (SSL) should be considered as a staging procedure so that patients with negative SLNs (about 80%) may be spared an extensive LN dissection. Malignant melanoma has been proven to be the most ideal tumor model to study the role of SLN. Subsequently, SSL has been applied to breast cancer, colon cancer and other types of solid cancer. The multidisciplinary approach encompassing the surgeon, nuclear medicine physician, and pathologist is the key to such a successful procedure. Such a team can be formed readily with appropriate training. Beyond the technical aspects of harvesting the SLN, the implication ofmicrometastasis remains to be defined. Because the follow-up of melanoma and breast cancer patients after SSL is crucial, ongoing clinical trials are in progress to determine the biological and clinical significance of SLNs. Although the concept of SLN is viable in other types of cancer, such as gynecological and gastrointestinal, the technical aspects of the procedure need to be perfected and verified. The most exciting possibility of SSL is that it will lead to early diagnosis of micrometastasis in regional LNs. Early diagnosis makes it useful as a clinical staging procedure, and opens up new opportunities to study micrometastasis and its evolution within the SLNs. Examining the multifaceted aspects of micrometastasis, such as differentiation of different clones with respect to the primary tumor, acquisition of adhesion molecules, and host interaction with the microscopic tumor, will shed new light on the biology of early metastasis. New molecular and genetic tools may be used to dissect the mechanisms of lymphatic and hemotogenous routes of metastasis. If such mechanisms can be understood, new therapeutic advances may be developed to prevent the process of micrometastasis. Rather than targeting larger tumor burdens such as Stage IV disease, targeted adjuvant clinical trials can be developed for high risk patients following definitive surgical resection. SSL is a standard staging procedure for patients with melanoma and is rapidly evolving into a standard procedure for breast cancer as well.