New Prognostic And Predictive Markers In Cancer Progression

Biomarkers are of critical medical importance for oncologists, allowing them to predict and detect disease and to determine the best course of action for cancer patient care. Prognostic markers are used to evaluate a patient’s outcome and cancer recurrence probability after initial interventions such as surgery or drug treatments and, hence, to select follow-up and further treatment strategies. On the other hand, predictive markers are increasingly being used to evaluate the probability of benefit from clinical intervention(s), driving personalized medicine. Evolving technologies and the increasing availability of “multiomics” data are leading to the selection of numerous potential biomarkers, based on DNA, RNA, miRNA, protein, and metabolic alterations within cancer cells or tumor microenvironment, that may be combined with clinical and pathological data to greatly improve the prediction of both cancer progression and therapeutic treatment responses. However, in recent years, few biomarkers have progressed from discovery to become validated tools to be used in clinical practice. This Special Issue comprises eight review articles and five original studies on novel potential prognostic and predictive markers for different cancer types.

Biomarkers are of critical medical importance for oncologists, allowing them to predict and detect disease and to determine the best course of action for cancer patient care. Prognostic markers are used to evaluate a patient's outcome and cancer recurrence probability after initial interventions such as surgery or drug treatments and, hence, to select follow-up and further treatment strategies. On the other hand, predictive markers are increasingly being used to evaluate the probability of benefit from clinical intervention(s), driving personalized medicine. Evolving technologies and the increasing availability of “multiomics” data are leading to the selection of numerous potential biomarkers, based on DNA, RNA, miRNA, protein, and metabolic alterations within cancer cells or tumor microenvironment, that may be combined with clinical and pathological data to greatly improve the prediction of both cancer progression and therapeutic treatment responses. However, in recent years, few biomarkers have progressed from discovery to become validated tools to be used in clinical practice. This Special Issue comprises eight review articles and five original studies on novel potential prognostic and predictive markers for different cancer types.

This integrated book covers the entire spectrum of cancer biomarkers in development and clinical use. Predictive and prognostic markers are explored in the context of colon cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer, and GIST. International experts provide insight into toxicity markers and surrogate markers. Attention is also given to biomarker assay development, validation, and strategies. A powerful tool for determining decisions on therapy, selecting drug regimens, monitoring the efficacy of treatment, and performing individualized surveillance, biomarkers represent the forefront of cancer research and treatment. As these technologies become increasingly available for clinical use, this book will be an essential resource for oncologists and translational researchers.

Expert laboratory and clinical researchers from around the world review how to design and evaluate studies of tumor markers and examine their use in breast cancer patients. The authors cover both the major advances in sophisticated molecular methods and the state-of-the-art in conventional prognostic and predictive indicators. Among the topics discussed are the relevance of rigorous study design and guidelines for the validation studies of new biomarkers, gene expression profiling by tissue microarrays, adjuvant systemic therapy, and the use of estrogen, progesterone, and epidermal growth factor receptors as both prognostic and predictive indicators. Highlights include the evaluation of HER2 and EGFR family members, of p53, and of UPA/PAI-1; the detection of rare cells in blood and marrow; and the detection and analysis of soluble, circulating markers.

After our successful first Special Issue about bladder cancer, we proceeded with the second issue. Again, many international scientists submitted their newest research results in that extremely interesting field and followed our call for submissions. It is not only the collection and combination of old and new markers that could develop new possibilities, but also the focus on different classifications and sub-classifications that will unveil new ways in diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. It seems that the two established diagnostic tools will still play an important role, but new markers and diagnostics tools will present more detailed and more differentiated possibilities in the treatment of urinary bladder cancer. This second Special Issue is full of scientific results that could provide new ways to help patients with instruments for early diagnostics and with predictive and prognostic markers on their way to finding new and personalized strategies for therapy. The editors thank all of the submitting authors for their efforts and time spent on each manuscript. We hope that this Special Issue will prove useful to research work in bladder cancer in the future. We hope that many talented researchers will use multiple forms of art to improve their professional successes and to ameliorate diagnostics and therapy in bladder cancer.

****When not purchasing directly from the official sales agents of the WHO, especially at online bookshops, please note that there have been issues with counterfeited copies. Buy only from known sellers and if there are quality issues, please contact the seller for a refund.***** Thoracic Tumoursis the fifth available volume in the fifth edition of the WHO series on the classification of human tumours. This series (also known as the WHO Blue Books) is regarded as the gold standard for the diagnosis of tumours and comprises a unique synthesis of histopathological diagnosis with digital and molecular pathology. These authoritative and concise reference books provide indispensable international standards for anyone involved in the care of patients with cancer or in cancer research, underpinning individual patient treatment as well as research into all aspects of cancer causation, prevention, therapy, and education. What's new in this edition? The fifth edition, guided by the WHO Classification of Tumours Editorial Board, establishes a single coherent cancer classification presented across a collection of individual volumes organized on the basis of anatomical site (digestive system, breast, soft tissue and bone, etc.) and structured in a systematic manner, with each tumour type listed within a taxonomic classification: site, category, family (class), type, and subtype. In each volume, the entities are now listed from benign to malignant and are described under an updated set of headings, including histopathology, diagnostic molecular pathology, staging, and easy-to-read essential and desirable diagnostic criteria. Who should read this book? * Pathologists * Oncologists * Respiratory physicians * Thoracic radiologists * Cancer researchers * Surgeons * Epidemiologists * Cancer registrars This volume: * Prepared by 217 authors and editors * Contributors from around the world * More than 1000 high-quality images * More than 3500 references

A FRESH EXAMINATION OF PRECISION MEDICINE'S INCREASINGLY PROMINENT ROLE IN THE FIELD OF ONCOLOGY Precision medicine takes into account each patient's specific characteristics and requirements to arrive at treatment plans that are optimized towards the best possible outcome. As the field of oncology continues to advance, this tailored approach is becoming more and more prevalent, channelling data on genomics, proteomics, metabolomics and other areas into new and innovative methods of practice. Precision Medicine in Oncology draws together the essential research driving the field forward, providing oncology clinicians and trainees alike with an illuminating overview of the technology and thinking behind the breakthroughs currently being made. Topics covered include: Biologically-guided radiation therapy Informatics for precision medicine Molecular imaging Biomarkers for treatment assessment Big data Nanoplatforms Casting a spotlight on this emerging knowledge base and its impact upon the management of tumors, Precision Medicine in Oncology opens up new possibilities and ways of working – not only for oncologists, but also for molecular biologists, radiologists, medical geneticists, and others.