Molecular Oncology

Reviews the origins of molecular oncology, including technologies for cancer analysis, key pathways in human malignancies, and available pharmacologic therapies.

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.

Proceedings of the 2nd Annual IFOM-IEO Meeting on Cancer. This is a new meeting, it has about 200 attendees from Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, England, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the USA. The 2nd IFOM-IEO international meeting on cancer will provide a forum in which the world’s leading cancer researchers and young scientists will discuss the latest advances in molecular oncology. The impact of recent breakthroughs in basic research and of emerging technologies on molecular medicine in cancer will be highlighted.

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.

This expert volume in the Diagnostic Pathology series is an excellent point-of-care resource for practitioners at all levels of experience and training. Providing a clear understanding of molecular pathology as it relates to the transformation and pathogenesis of cancer in an era of personalized medicine, it incorporates the most recent scientific and technical knowledge in the field to provide a comprehensive overview of all key issues relevant to today’s practice. Richly illustrated and easy to use, the third edition of Diagnostic Pathology: Molecular Oncology is a visually stunning, one-stop resource for every practicing pathologist, hematopathologist, molecular pathologist, oncologist, or pathologist in training as an ideal day-to-day reference or as a reliable learning resource. Provides up-to-date, comprehensive coverage of relevant molecular tests and their clinical applications, along with organ-based chapters on the molecular genetic data relevant to individual disease entities Contains new chapters and substantial revisions to existing content that include updates from the 2022 International Consensus Classification and the WHO Classification of Haematolymphoid Tumours, fifth edition Provides expert guidance on selecting the right test(s) at the right time, as well as comparisons of molecular testing methods (e.g., FISH vs. cytogenetics) Includes current information for new actionable mutations and targeted therapies Covers ultrasensitive molecular techniques for minimal residual disease detection and disease monitoring Discusses circulating cell-free DNA analysis for detection of resistance-associated mutations and disease monitoring, and provides usage details Features an image-rich layout with more than 2,400 print and online-only images, including high-resolution H&E stains, immunostains, FISH images, gross pathology and clinical photographs, detailed full-color medical illustrations, and informative diagrams, charts, and schematics Employs consistently templated chapters, bulleted content, key facts, a variety of tables, annotated images, pertinent references, and an extensive index for quick, expert reference at the point of care Any additional digital ancillary content may publish up to 6 weeks following the publication date Molecular oncology is a rapidly evolving field with tremendous amounts of information that is new since the 2e published in March 2019. There is new molecular genetic data linked to either new targeted therapies or that serves as diagnostic or prognostic indicators. The 3e will include 8-10 new chapters and substantial updates and rewrites to existing contents to make sure ongoing edits and revisions to the upcoming WHO Classification of Hematopoietic Tumors are included in the 3e. The authors provide guidance on selecting the right test(s) at the right time for the right patient and comparisons of molecular testing methods (i.e., FSH testing vs. cytogenetics) are included. The market lacks a definitive source of all the recent changes, and DP3 Molecular Oncology will provide a comprehensive information source.

The basic knowledge of cell biology and molecular genetics in oncology is increasingly attracting the interest of clinical oncologists and is close to reaching a helpful application at the bedside. At present, it seems clear that the solution of the cancer problem lies within the comprehension of the intimate mechanisms leading to cell transformation and tumor progression as weIl as of the cancer-host relationship. According to this rationale every achievement in this context could drastically improve both diagnosis and therapy of neoplastic diseases. This={)ook represents the proceedings of the International Conference o~ Cancer: Biological Mechanisms and Clinical Applications, held in Rome on November 16-18, 1992. The meeting was organized by the Centro di Ricerche Oncologiche "Giovanni XXIII" of the Catholic University of Rome and the Consorzio Mario Negri Sud of S. M. Imbaro in collaboration with other colleagues from the Universities of Napoli and Bologna. As organizers and pmticipants to the Conference we think the meeting was a success, as was confirmed by the great interest raised in scientific and academic circles. The book collects contributions from leading scientists in all oncological m·eas ranging from molecular biology to immunology, diagnosis and therapy. The papers are organized into four sections: I - Molecular aspects of cell transformation and growth; II - Membrane receptors and signal transduction; III - Models for new therapeutical strategies; IV - Clinical Applications, following the strategy that chm·acterized the entire meeting: from molecule to bedside.

Demonstrating how the malfunction of normal molecular pathways and components can lead to cancer, this text explores how our understanding of these defective mechanisms can be harnessed to develop new targeted therapeutic agents.

"Cancer is one of the major causes of death worldwide. Despite hundreds of clinical trials currently in progress for cancer patients, the success rate is still very low. Understanding the molecular aspects of cancer development, the discovery of new molecu"