Etiology Of Acute Leukemias In Children

Childhood acute leukemias are one of the main causes of death in children aged 1 to 14 years in some countries; and unfortunately, we have been unable to prevent it. Certainly, a good parcel of it is due to the poor understanding about its etiology. This book aims to describe the most important theories and hypothesis regarding childhood acute leukemia. Written by the most outstanding researchers in the field, this book intends to contribute to a greater understanding of the etiology of this disease. It goes beyond the simple and common analysis of risk factors, which hardly allows us to draw definite conclusions. By addressing the etiology of the disease, discussing from molecular biology until epidemiology and clinical manifestations, this book will guide present and future approaches, contributing for a better clinical management of leukemia in children. The knowledge regarding etiology is a crucial step for a better evaluation, prevention and treatment of a disease. Thus, this book finally intends to provide such knowledge, allowing physicians and practitioners to a better manage of childhood acute leukemias.

This book provides a comprehensive and up-to-date review of all aspects of childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, from basic biology to supportive care. It offers new insights into the genetic pre-disposition to the condition and discusses how response to early therapy and its basic biology are utilized to develop new prognostic stratification systems and target therapy. Readers will learn about current treatment and outcomes, such as immunotherapy and targeted therapy approaches. Supportive care and management of the condition in resource poor countries are also discussed in detail. This is an indispensable guide for research and laboratory scientists, pediatric hematologists as well as specialist nurses involved in the care of childhood leukemia.

Every day, 1500 Americans die of cancer, and yet for most of us this deadly disease remains mysterious. Why is it so common? Why are there so many different causes? Why does treatment so often fail? What, ultimately, is cancer? In this fascinating new book, a leading cancer researcher offers general readers clear and convincing answers to these and many other questions. Mel Greaves places cancer in its evolutionary context, arguing that we can best answer the big questions about cancer by looking through a Darwinian lens. Drawing on both ancient and more modern evolutionary legacies, he shows how human development has changed the rules of evolutionary games, trapping us in a nature-nurture mismatch. Compelling examples, from the King of Naples intestinal tumor in the 15th century, through the epidemic of scrotal skin cancer in 18th-century chimney sweeps, to the current surge of cases of prostate cancer illustrate his thesis. He also shows why the old paradigms of infectious diseases or genetic disorders have proved fruitless when trying to explain this complex and elusive disease. And finally, he looks at the implications for research, prevention, and treatment of cancer that an evolutionary perspective provides. Drawing on the most recent research, this is the first book to put cancer in its evolutionary framework. At a time when Darwinian perspectives on everything from language acquisition to economics are providing new breakthroughs in understanding, medicine seems to have much to gain from the insights provided by evolutionary biology. Written in an exceptionally lucid and entertaining style, this book will be of broad interest to all those who wish to know more about this dread disease.

Since the original publication of Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation: Clinical Research and Practice, Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSC) has undergone several fast-paced changes. In this second edition, the editors have focused on topics relevant to evolving knowledge in the field in order to better guide clinicians in decision-making and management of their patients, as well as help lead laboratory investigators in new directions emanating from clinical observations. Some of the most respected clinicians and scientists in this discipline have responded to the recent advances in the field by providing state-of-the-art discussions addressing these topics in the second edition. The text covers the scope of human genomic variation, the methods of HLA typing and interpretation of high-resolution HLA results. Comprehensive and up-to-date, Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation: Clinical Research and Practice, Second Edition offers concise advice on today's best clinical practice and will be of significant benefit to all clinicians and researchers in allogeneic HSC transplantation.

Better therapy of acute leukemias depends ultimately on better understanding of the distinction between leukemic and normal progenitor cells. This hugely important new book describes the current knowledge of acute leukemia biology and discusses new classification systems that have arisen as a result of emerging insights into pathogenesis. Estey, Faderl and Kantarjian, who all work at the respected Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, USA, examine in detail advances in the treatment of particular types of acute leukemia. Their book also covers the management of acute leukemia in general as well as the development of new therapies. This book will be extremely useful to clinicians.

This book is a comprehensive and up-to-date compendium on all aspects of childhood leukemia. After introductory chapters on the epidemiology and biology of pediatric leukemia, treatment considerations are extensively reviewed, with emphasis on the use of risk-adjusted treatment approaches. Promising targeted agents are discussed, and strategies for the development of new agents are appraised. The late effects of leukemia and its therapy are then considered in depth, with due attention to management of the psychosocial impact of the disease. Finally, global strategies to improve leukemia care and outcome are reviewed, and future directions discussed. The authors are internationally recognized experts and offer a largely evidence-based consensus on etiology, biology, and treatment. This handbook has far-reaching applicability to the clinical diagnosis and management of pediatric leukemia and will prove invaluable to specialists, generalists, and trainees alike.

This book provides an overview of the key developments in both acute lymphocytic leukemia and acute myeloid leukemia with a comprehensive guide to the epidemiology, pathogenesis, etiology, clinical manifestations, classification, diagnosis, and staging as well as the most recent developments in the therapeutic landscape for acute leukemia. The Handbook of Acute Leukemia offers readers a key resource into the future outlook for patients with leukemia and is edited and authored by internationally renowned experts in the field. Leukemia is cancer of the white blood cells and acute leukemia means the condition progresses rapidly and aggressively, requiring immediate treatment. Acute leukemia is classified according to the type of white blood cells that are affected: either lymphocytes and myeloid cells.