Cytokines and Cancer

This volume provides a comprehensive review of the current knowledge on cytokines and cancer. Cytokines play a variety of roles in cancer, both as components of pathogenetic mechanisms, as well as agents used in the treatment of certain malignancies. To date, there has not been a book published that covers both basic science and translational/clinical research in the field of cytokines in malignancies.

The volume is divided in two sections. Section one focuses on current developments in the basic science field with particular emphasis on novel mechanisms of cytokine actions in malignant cells. The second section deals with translational and clinical research in the field, and many of the chapter authors were among the first to introduce several cytokines in the treatment of certain tumors.

Cytokines and Cancer is written by leading figures in the field of cytokine biology and cytokine therapeutics and is specifically focused on this subject.

Collectively, the information provided in this book will be helpful to people in the medical field at several levels, including medical students, interns, residents, clinical and basic science researchers, as well as oncologists in practice.

Zusammenfassung
Dramatic advances have occurred over the last few years in the research field of cancer biology. There has been a constant accumulation of important new information, resulting in a gradual transformation on the perceptions that exist among scientists regarding mechanisms by which the malignant phenotype develops. The recent developments in cancer research have also had a substantial impact in efforts towards the development of new cancer therapies. One of the most explosive and rapidly advancing research areas has been the area of cytokines and cancer. Many perceptions have changed from the original discovery, decades ago, of the interferon, to the current state of the art cytokine research. It is now well recognized that many cytokines play important roles in normal cellular functions, while some of them have prominent roles in the pathophysiology of cancer. It is also now firmly established that several cytokines promote the growth of cancer cells, while others act as suppressors of malignant cell proliferation. The importance of the cytokine signaling field in cancer is reflected by the development of multiple treatments that have been introduced in clinical oncology over the last few years. Understanding the physiological functions of cytokines, as well as their precise roles in the pathogenesis of certain malignancies, is extremely important in the current clinical era.

Inhalt

Basic Science Research.- Polypeptide Growth Factors and Their Receptors.- Chemokines and Cancer.- Interferons.- Cytokines and Lymphomas.- Pro-apototic and Anti-apoptotic Effects of Tumor Necrosis Factor in Tumor Cells.- Transforming Growth Factor Beta and Breast Cancer.- Transforming Growth Factor Beta and Prostate Cancer.- Angiostatin.- Clinical and Translational Research.- Interferons in the Treatment of Solid Tumors.- Targeting Cytokine Receptors and Pathways in the Treatment of Breast Cancer.- Interleukin-2 in the Treatment of Renal Cell Carcinoma and Malignant Melanoma.- Cytokine Targeted Treatments for Lung Cancer.- Cytokines in the Treatment of Acute Leukemias.- Cytokines in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation.- Novel Cytokines in the Treatment of Malignancies.