Minimal Residual Disease In Melanoma

This book focuses on the biological mechanisms of minimal residual disease (MRD) and recurrence. It integrates this biology in solid cancers and in hematological malignancies. It reports also on technological advancements for monitoring MRD, derived from mechanistic insights. Chapters in solid and hematological malignancies address stem cell biology, genetics, epigenetics and micro-environmental regulation of dormant MRD. Novel insight into technologies for molecular phenotyping of MRD and monitoring of CTCs, DTCs and cell free RNA and DNA are also addressed extensively. Five chapters explore the above concepts in solid cancers such as prostate, breast, melanoma, head and neck and esophageal. Two chapters also explore the basic mechanisms of vascular biology targeting and epigenetic mechanisms regulating pluripotency programs during dormancy. Similar biology is explored in hematological malignancies such as T-ALL, CML, AML and multiple myeloma in additional four chapters. This book is edited and prefaced by Dr. Julio Aguirre-Ghiso, an expert in dormancy and recurrence. The chapters are written by world-recognized experts Drs. Ravi Bahtia, Samir Parekh, Russel Taichman, Monica Guzman, David Hoon, Denis Schewe, Irmela Jeremias, Cyrus Ghajar, Maria Soledad Sosa and Nicholas Stoecklein. The topic of this book is of particular interest to both basic cancer cell biologists and physician scientists that are working to provide a more integrated view of the biology of MRD and to those interested in working on or learning about this paradigm. The integrated and cross-disciplinary focus of the book from biology to medicine seeks to help bridge gaps to improve cancer care and prevent recurrences.

Knowledge about diagnostic procedures in melanoma has in creased rapidly within the past few years. Single tumor cells have been identified in normal tissue such as sentinel lymph nodes, as well as in bone marrow, peripheral blood, and other bodily fluids and cells, by molecular technologies. The introduction of polymerase chain reaction-based methods can be regarded as a prototype of this dramatic development towards molecular approaches in new diagnostic procedures. This fact opens up the possibility of clinical use in patients and of influencing treatment strategies. Considerable discrepancies have been described, how ever, in the success rates of these new techniques for the detec tion of minimal residual disease in cancer patients. Despite fav orable results reported by different groups of investigators, it will take several years to define the clinical and pathophysiological relevance of new diagnostic procedures. The 1st International Symposium "Minimal Residual Disease in Melanoma: Biology, Detection and Clinical Relevance of Microme tastases", held in September 1999 in Homburg/Saar, Germany, fo cused on recent developments in this particular area of cancer re search. The purpose of the meeting was to stimulate discussion and exchange of new data and ideas by renowned international scientists. The aim of this volume is to summarize major topics of basic research and clinical investigations presented by invited experts in this fascinating but still. controversial field of melanoma re search.

Knowledge about diagnostic procedures in melanoma has in creased rapidly within the past few years. Single tumor cells have been identified in normal tissue such as sentinel lymph nodes, as well as in bone marrow, peripheral blood, and other bodily fluids and cells, by molecular technologies. The introduction of polymerase chain reaction-based methods can be regarded as a prototype of this dramatic development towards molecular approaches in new diagnostic procedures. This fact opens up the possibility of clinical use in patients and of influencing treatment strategies. Considerable discrepancies have been described, how ever, in the success rates of these new techniques for the detec tion of minimal residual disease in cancer patients. Despite fav orable results reported by different groups of investigators, it will take several years to define the clinical and pathophysiological relevance of new diagnostic procedures. The 1st International Symposium "Minimal Residual Disease in Melanoma: Biology, Detection and Clinical Relevance of Microme tastases", held in September 1999 in Homburg/Saar, Germany, fo cused on recent developments in this particular area of cancer re search. The purpose of the meeting was to stimulate discussion and exchange of new data and ideas by renowned international scientists. The aim of this volume is to summarize major topics of basic research and clinical investigations presented by invited experts in this fascinating but still. controversial field of melanoma re search.

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.

This book focuses on the biological mechanisms of minimal residual disease (MRD) and recurrence. It integrates this biology in solid cancers and in hematological malignancies. It reports also on technological advancements for monitoring MRD, derived from mechanistic insights. Chapters in solid and hematological malignancies address stem cell biology, genetics, epigenetics and micro-environmental regulation of dormant MRD. Novel insight into technologies for molecular phenotyping of MRD and monitoring of CTCs, DTCs and cell free RNA and DNA are also addressed extensively. Five chapters explore the above concepts in solid cancers such as prostate, breast, melanoma, head and neck and esophageal. Two chapters also explore the basic mechanisms of vascular biology targeting and epigenetic mechanisms regulating pluripotency programs during dormancy. Similar biology is explored in hematological malignancies such as T-ALL, CML, AML and multiple myeloma in additional four chapters. This book is edited and prefaced by Dr. Julio Aguirre-Ghiso, an expert in dormancy and recurrence. The chapters are written by world-recognized experts Drs. Ravi Bahtia, Samir Parekh, Russel Taichman, Monica Guzman, David Hoon, Denis Schewe, Irmela Jeremias, Cyrus Ghajar, Maria Soledad Sosa and Nicholas Stoecklein. The topic of this book is of particular interest to both basic cancer cell biologists and physician scientists that are working to provide a more integrated view of the biology of MRD and to those interested in working on or learning about this paradigm. The integrated and cross-disciplinary focus of the book from biology to medicine seeks to help bridge gaps to improve cancer care and prevent recurrences.

This important book provides up-to-date information on a series of topical issues relating to the approach to minimal residual disease in breast cancer patients. It first explains how the study of minimal residual disease and circulating and disseminated tumor cells (CTCs/DTCs) can assist in the understanding of breast cancer metastasis. A series of chapters then discuss the various technologies available for the detection and characterization of CTCs and DTCs, pinpointing their merits and limitations. Detailed consideration is given to the relevance of CTCs and DTCs, and their detection, to clinical research and practice. The role of other blood-based biomarkers is also addressed, and the closing chapters debate the challenges facing drug and biomarker co-development and the use of CTCs for companion diagnostic development. This book will be of interest and assistance to all who are engaged in the modern management of breast cancer.

Knowledge about diagnostic procedures in melanoma has in creased rapidly within the past few years. Single tumor cells have been identified in normal tissue such as sentinel lymph nodes, as well as in bone marrow, peripheral blood, and other bodily fluids and cells, by molecular technologies. The introduction of polymerase chain reaction-based methods can be regarded as a prototype of this dramatic development towards molecular approaches in new diagnostic procedures. This fact opens up the possibility of clinical use in patients and of influencing treatment strategies. Considerable discrepancies have been described, how ever, in the success rates of these new techniques for the detec tion of minimal residual disease in cancer patients. Despite fav orable results reported by different groups of investigators, it will take several years to define the clinical and pathophysiological relevance of new diagnostic procedures. The 1st International Symposium "Minimal Residual Disease in Melanoma: Biology, Detection and Clinical Relevance of Microme tastases", held in September 1999 in Homburg/Saar, Germany, fo cused on recent developments in this particular area of cancer re search. The purpose of the meeting was to stimulate discussion and exchange of new data and ideas by renowned international scientists. The aim of this volume is to summarize major topics of basic research and clinical investigations presented by invited experts in this fascinating but still. controversial field of melanoma re search.

1978 Annual Plenary Meeting of the European Organization for Research on Treatment of Cancer, Paris, June 1978