Cancer Chemotherapy And Biological Response Modifiers

In its ninth year the Cancer Chemotherapy Annual series has been renamed, reformatted and expanded to include a section on biological response modifiers. It is, and will remain, the only medium for oncologists to keep pace with the many thousands of articles published in their field. The international board of some seventy contributors now also includes experts in biological therapeutics, who have evaluated their segment of the international medical literature. The editors, H.M. Pinedo and B.A. Chabner, have secured the assistance of D.L. Longo, who qualifies as the director of the Biological Response Modifiers Program of the National Cancer Institute in Frederick, MD, USA.

This volume is part of a series of annuals that present critical reviews of the recent developments in the pharmacology of anti-cancer agents, the area of biologicals and the clinical management of the cancer patient.

This volume, the last in this series on cancer growth and Moreover, the current status of plant-derived vinca alka progression, is a companion volume to Volume IX and loids and non-alkaloid natural products is summarized. further explores established and novel approaches for the Advances in hyperthermia and additional approaches for therapy of patients with malignant neoplasms. The stra the therapy of malignancies are also presented. tegies reflected in these volumes are direct extrapolations The volume continues with chapters on bone marrow from the basic science of cancer biology, growth and pro transplantation as well as hematologic and nutritional sup gression described in earlier volumes of this series. Some port for the cancer patient. Blood pressure in the cancer approaches are directed towards the eradication or modifi patient, therapy for nausea and vomiting as well as pain are cation of the properties of heterogeneous malignant tumor discussed. The last chapter is devoted to the problems of the cells at various stages of tumor progression, while other terminally ill, including evaluations of the burden relatives approaches are directed towards modification of the host and friends of the cancer patient have to bear. antitumor defense systems, e. g. , enhancement of host anti It is clear that important advances in the basic science of tumor immune reactivity.

The topic of biological response modifiers has attracted the attention of many biomedical investigators, including immunologists, oncologists, pharmacologists, microbiologists, and biochemists, as well as clinical practitioners of medicine. This has occurred mainly because of the realization that the complex system of cellular and humoral interactions culminating in a productive immune response is under exquisite regulatory control for normal immune responses and that loss of control may markedly influence the capability of a host to respond in a productive manner to the numerous immunologic "insults" encountered in the environment. Furthermore, biological response modification is considered by many to be a natural offshoot of the relatively new application of "immunotherapy" to cancer. It is widely recognized that "immunotherapy" was practiced at the end of the last century and the beginning of this century when it was recognized that microbial infections were caused by distinct species of bacteria and that passive administration of serum con taining antibody to these microbes or their products could, in many cases, favorably influence the outcome of an infectious process.

Cancer Chemotherapy and Biological Response Modifiers has provided its readers with a comprehensive, definitive annual review of the literature in the fields of cancer biology, pharmacology, treatment and management. Its contributors are internationally renowned figures in the field of oncology. This volume contains 30 chapters reviewing recent developments within specific subject areas of oncological research. Having this up to date information on hand will ensure that you are well informed, so you can stay at the forefront of your profession.

The 2nd International Symposium on Combination Therapies brought together several hundred of the leading researchers, scientists and clinicians in this area to discuss new and emerging uses for biological response modifiers (BRM's) in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. The meeting was held during May 1-3, 1992 in Acireale, Sicily (Italy). It was hosted by Professor G. Nicoletti CU. of Catania) and organized by the Institute for Advanced Studies in Immunology and Aging (Washington, D. C. ) in collaboration with the University of Rome "Tor Vergata," the University of Catania and The George Washington University Medical Center. The synergy exhibited between BRM's and conventional therapies including bone marrow and other lymphoid cell transplants is a rapidly expanding area with significant promise for the treatment of human diseases. Advances in this area of biomedicine are leading to the rapid development of new therapeutic approaches that are being applied clinically as both primary and adjuvant therapy to enhance the effectiveness of conventional treatments. The 2nd International Symposium on Combination Therapy provided a setting for the exchange of new scientific information regarding the emerging uses for BRM's alone or in combination with conventional therapies. The 1st International Symposium on Combination Therapies was held in 1991 in Washington, D. C.