Molecular Oncology Underlying Mechanisms And Translational Advancements

Cancer is a multifaceted and genomically complex disease and data obtained through high throughput technologies has provided near complete resolution of the landscape of how genomic, genetic and epigenetic mutations in cancerous cells effectively influence homeostasis of signaling networks within these cells, between cancerous cells, tumor microenvironment and at the organ level. Increasingly sophisticated information has helped us in developing a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms of cancer, and it is now known that intra-tumor genetic heterogeneity, cellular plasticity, dysregulation of spatio-temporally controlled signaling cascades, and loss of apoptosis are contributory in cancer development, progression and the development of resistance against different therapeutics. It is becoming progressively more understandable that earlier detection of pre-existing or emerging resistance against different therapeutics may prove to be helpful in personalizing the use of targeted cancer therapy. Despite the fact that there is a continuously increasing list of books, being guest edited by researchers, books on the subject are often composed of invited reviews without proper sequence and continuity and designed for a particular readership. This book progressively shifts and guides the readers from basic underlying mechanisms to translational approaches to treat cancer.

At the midpoint of the 20th century, our knowledge of cancer was based on epide- ology and pathology, and treatment consisted of surgery and radiation therapy. At mid-century, Medawar and colleagues initiated the understanding of transplantation immunology, Farber described the first use of an antifolic drug to treat leukemia, and Jacobson and coworkers described the irradiation-protection effect of spleen cells. These observations opened the door to the development of chemotherapy and tra- plantation in the treatment of cancer. Despite the rapid development of these new disciplines, progress was usually based on empiric observations and clinical trials. The rapid advances in molecular biology at the end of the 20th century mark a new era in our knowledge of cancer. Molecular immunology, molecular genetics, mole- lar pharmacology, and the Human Genome Project are in the process of providing a level of understanding of cancer undreamed of in the past. Optimism is based on the firm belief that understanding at the molecular level will lead to better and earlier di- nosis, to new forms of treatment, and, most importantly, eventually to prevention of many types of cancer.

The book Heat Shock Proteins in Neuroscience provides the most comprehensive review on contemporary knowledge on the role of HSP in signaling pathways relevant to a number of diseases. Using an integrative approach, the contributors provide a synopsis of novel mechanisms, signal transduction pathways. To enhance the ease of reading and comprehension, this book has been subdivided into various section including; Section I, reviews current progress on our understanding of Neurological Aspects of HSP; Section II, focuses on Aspects of HSP in Neurodegenerative Diseases and Disorders, Section III, emphasizes the importance of HSP in Multiple Sclerosis; Section IV, reviews critical Aspects of HSP in Alzheimer’s Disease and Section V, gives a comprehensive update of the Development of HSP-Based Therapies for Neurological Disorders. Key basic and clinical research laboratories from major universities, academic medical hospitals, biotechnology and pharmaceutical laboratories around the world have contributed chapters that review present research activity and importantly project the field into the future. The book is a must read for starters and professionals in the fields of Neurology and Neurosciences, Translational Medicine, Clinical Research, Human Physiology, Biotechnology, Cell & Molecular Medicine, Pharmaceutical Scientists and Researchers involved in Drug Discovery.

Cancer is the second leading cause of death globally. Medicinal Plants and Cancer Chemoprevention provides information on the use of various herbal plants used as anticancer agents. It discusses the traditional system of medicine and focuses on plant-derived compounds for cancer therapy with integrated approaches. Chapters present information on various medicinal plants that covers background and history, ethnomedical considerations, morphology, phytochemistry, and pharmacological properties. The book presents a scientific investigation on medicinal plants in managing cancer, reported mechanisms of action as anticancer activity, as well as covering the toxicological aspects of certain plants. KEY FEATURES: · Details information on plant-derived compounds for cancer therapy. · Features information on methods of extraction and isolation of various phytoconstituents responsible for anticancer activity. · Discusses herbal formulations and alternative approaches used for the management and treatment of cancer. · Demonstrates the importance of alternative approaches including yoga, acupuncture, and dietary supplements to be effective in the management of cancer. This book is helpful to botanists, researchers and practitioners in alternative and complementary medicine, and the herbal medicine research community.

Translational Medicine: Tools and Techniques provides a standardized path from basic research to the clinic and brings together various policy and practice issues to simplify the broad interdisciplinary field. With discussions from academic and industry leaders at international institutions who have successfully implemented translational medicine techniques and tools in various settings, readers will be guided through implementation strategies relevant to their own needs and institutions. The book also addresses regulatory processes in USA, EU, Japan and China. By providing details on omics sciences techniques, biomarkers, data mining and management approaches, case reports from industry, and tools to assess the value of different technologies and techniques, this book is the first to provide a user-friendly go-to guide for key opinion leaders (KOLs), industry administrators, faculty members, clinicians, researchers, and students interested in translational medicine. Includes detailed and standardized information about the techniques and tools used in translational medicine Provides specific industry case scenarios Explains how to use translational medicine tools and techniques to plan and improve infrastructures and capabilities while reducing cost and optimizing resources

Medicinal Chemistry of Chemotherapeutic Agents: A Comprehensive Resource of Anti-infective and Anti-cancer Drugs focuses on the basics and fundamentals of chemistry involved in chemotherapeutic agents. Each chapter comprises distinct chemical classifications that include structure and IUPAC nomenclature, synthetic schemes and routes for each drug, mechanism of the drug action, metabolic pathway and structure–activity relationship (SAR) studies. The book covers current research focused on drug resistance and methods to overcome it, the development of newer drugs belonging to each category of the chemotherapeutic agents, molecules currently under clinical trials, and newly approved drugs, if any. This book will be a valuable resource for academics and researchers, helping them to understand the fundamentals of the medicinal chemistry of the chemotherapeutic agents. Includes current research focused on drug resistance and methods to overcome problems Outlines synthetic schemes and metabolic pathways of chemotherapeutic agents Discusses molecules under clinical trials and newly approved drugs

Hepatobiliary cancer refers to primary malignant tumors originating in cells of the liver, bile ducts, and gallbladder. Globally, primary liver cancer, which includes hepatocellular carcinoma (~75 % of all cases) and intrahepatic biliary cancer or cholangiocarcinoma (~10-15 % 0f all cases) is the 6th most commonly diagnosed cancer and 3rd leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. The vast majority of these highly malignant cancers are diagnosed at an advanced stage where treatment options are limited and patient survival outcomes are poor. The biological and therapeutic challenges posed by hepatobililiary cancers such as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) are daunting, emphasizing a critical need to review and assess current and evolving basic, translational, and clinical research focused on addressing the critical obstacles that continue to limit progress towards achieving significant improvements in HCC and CCA clinical management and patient survival outcomes. Towards this goal, this special edition of Advances in Cancer Research is focused on providing a comprehensive, timely and authoritative reviews covering such topics of significant scientific and clinical relevance, including hepatobiliary cancer risk mechanisms and risk-predictive molecular biomarkers; causes and functional intricacies of inter- and intratumor heterogeneity; novel insights into the role of tumor microenvironment and key signaling pathways in promoting hepatobiliary cancer progression, therapeutic resistance and immunosuppression; emerging biomarkers of HCC and CCA prognosis; advances in molecular genomics for personalizing tumor classification and targeted therapies; innovative preclinical cell culture modeling for hepatobiliary cancer drug discovery; and current and emerging trends in hepatobiliary cancer molecular therapeutic targeting and immunotherapies. Up-to date review of hepatobiliary cancers molecular genetics, novel predictive molecular biomarkers, and distinct mechanisms of inter-and intratumor heterogeneity Novel insights into the role of tumor microenvironment as a promoter of hepatobiliary cancer progression and therapeutic resistance, as well as an emerging therapeutic target Current and emerging approaches and strategies for advancing personalized molecular therapeutic targeting and immunotherapy of hepatobiliary cancers