Oxford Textbook of Cancer Biology

by Francesco Pezzella, Mahvash Tavassoli, David Kerr

Overview

The study of the biology of tumours has grown to become markedly interdisciplinary, involving chemists, statisticians, epidemiologists, mathematicians, bioinformaticians, and computer scientists alongside biologists, geneticists, and clinicians. The Oxford Textbook of Cancer Biology brings together the most up-to-date developments from different branches of research into one coherent volume, providing a comprehensive and current account of this rapidly evolving field.

Structured in eight sections, the book starts with a review of the development and biology of multi-cellular organisms, how they maintain a healthy homeostasis in an individual, and a description of the molecular basis of cancer development. The book then illustrates, as once cells become neoplastic, their signalling network is altered and pathological behaviour follows. It explores the changes that cancer cells can induce in nearby normal tissue, the new relationship established between them and the stroma, and the interaction between the immune system and tumour growth. The authors illustrate the contribution provided by high throughput techniques to map cancer at different levels, from genomic sequencing to cellular metabolic functions, and how information technology, with its vast amounts of data, is integrated with traditional cell biology to provide a global view of the disease. The effect of the different types of treatments on the biology of the neoplastic cells are explored to understand on the one side, why some treatments succeed, and on the other, how they can affect the biology of resistant and recurrent disease. The book concludes by summarizing what we know to date about cancer, and in what direction our understanding of cancer is moving.

Edited by leading authorities in the field with an international team of contributors, this book is an essential resource for scholars and professionals working in the wide variety of sub-disciplines that make up today's cancer research and treatment community. It is written not only for consultation, but also for easy cover-to-cover reading.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780198779452
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	07/02/2019
Series:	Oxford Textbooks in Oncology
Pages:	504
Product dimensions:	10.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Francesco Pezzella is Professor of Tumour Pathology at the University of Oxford, UK, and Consultant Pathologist at the Oxford University Hospitals. His early work focused on the pathology of HIV and its effect on lymph nodes, followed by the molecular alterations of non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. His research then turned to cancer and blood vessels, whereby he discovered the non-angiogenic pathway of the growth of human cancers, leading to a change in one of the hallmarks of cancer. Professor Pezzella continues to specialise in haematopathology and has published over 200 papers.

Mahvash Tavassoli is Professor of Molecular Oncology at King's College London, UK. She has held several positions internationally, including at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Centre in Seattle, the University of Sussex, and the Max Planck institute in Munich. Professor Tavassoli's early research focused on understanding the signaling and apoptosis pathways which are deregulated in cancer, before shifting towards the clinical application of her lab work. She currently leads a research team at KCL focused on developing genetic tests for the early detection and prediction of patient response to radiotherapy in head and neck cancer. They aim to develop more effective, less toxic cancer therapeutics.

David J. Kerr is Professor of Cancer Medicine, at the University of Oxford, UK, and Adjunct Professor of Medicine at Weill Cornell College of Medicine in New York, USA. Professor Kerr has made a sustained and internationally recognised contribution to cancer care and research in the field of medical oncology over the past three decades. He has published over 400 papers in high profile journals, authored over twenty books, and has been awarded four prestigious, international research prizes, including the NHS's first Nye Bevan award for Innovation. His scientific standing has been recognised by election as Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, Fellow of Academy of Medical Sciences, President of the European Society of Medical Oncology (2009-2011), and Founding Fellow of the European Academy of Cancer Sciences.

Table of Contents

Section 1: The multicellular organism1. The multicellular organism and cancer, Francesco Pezzella, David Kerr, and Mahvash Tavassoli2. DNA repair and genome integrity, Giacomo Buscemi3. Evolution and cancer, Tom Donnem and Francesco PezzellaSection 2: The etiology of cancer4. Genetics and genetic instability in cancer, Mark A. Glaire and David N. Church5. Epigenetics, Edward Hookway, Nicholas Athanasou, and Udo Oppermann6. Viral carcinogenesis - an overview, Dirk P. Dittmer and Blossom Damania7. Chemical carcinogens, David H. Phillips8. Radiation as a Carcinogen, Yan-Qun Xiang and Chao-Nan QianSection 3: How the cancer cell works9. Growth factors and associated signalling pathways in tumour progression and in cancer treatment, Nadege Gaborit and Yosef Yarden10. Hormones and Cancer, Balkees Abderrahman and V. Craig Jordan11. Oncogenesis and tumour suppression, Mahvash Tavassoli and Francesco Pezzella12. The signaling pathways in cancer, Jiangting Hu13. Cell cycle control, Simon Carr and Nicholas La Thangue14. Cancer and cell death, Jessica Bullenkamp and Mahvash Tavassoli15. Telomerase and immortalisation, Laura Collopy and Kazunori Tomita16. Cancer metabolism, Almut Schulze, Karim Bensaad, and Adrian L Harris17. Chaperones and protein quality control in the neoplastic process, Andrea Rasola18. Oxygen and cancer: the response to hypoxia, Adrian L Harris and Margaret Ashcroft19. Invasion, Metastasis and Tumor Dormancy, Andrey Ugolkov and Andrew P. Mazar20. Cancer Stem Cells, Connor Sweeney, Lynn Quek, Betty Gration, and Paresh VyasSection 4: Cancer microenvironment21. Cancer associated stroma, W.E. Mesker and R.A.E.M. Tollenaar22. Blood vessels and cancer, Francesco Pezzella and Robert Kerbel23. Cancer Immunology, Herman WaldmannSection 5: Global vision of cancer24. Molecular profiling in cancer research and personalized medicine, Pieter-Jan van Dam and Steven Van Laere25. Proteomics and metabolomics applications in cancer biology, Pedro Cutillas and Benedikt M. Kessler26. Cancer systems biology: from molecular profiles to pathways, signalling networks and therapeutic vulnerabilities, Lieven Verbeke and Steven Van Laere27. Cancer biology through immunohistology, Karen Pulford and Kevin GatterSection 6: The biology of cancer treatment28. Principles of chemotherapy, David Kerr, Daniel Haller, and Jaap Verweij29. Immunotherapy and Tumour Resistance to immune mediated control and elimination, Gwennaelle C. Monnot and Pedro Romero30. Biological effect of radiotherapy on cancer cells, Anna Dubrovska, Mechthild Krause, and Michael BaumannSection 7: Conclusions31. Benign tumours: the forgotten neoplasms, Francesco Pezzella, Adrian L Harris, and Mahvash Tavassoli32. Conclusions: cancer biology, a moveable feast, David Kerr and Mahvash Tavassoli

Editorial Reviews

Reviewer: George M Rodgers, MD, PhD (University of Utah School of Medicine)
Description: This is a comprehensive review of the etiology, pathophysiology, and cellular machinery of malignancy. It contains not only the historical advances and modern knowledge in cancer biology, but also a discussion of practical applications, diagnostics, and therapies.
Purpose: The purpose is to present a concise and current examination of an otherwise extensive and rapidly changing field. This book focuses largely on the basic science behind cancer cell machinery (genetics/epigenetics, cell cycle, metabolism, signal transduction, etc.) and its surrounding environment (stroma, immune cells, vasculature). The fundamental bases behind such cellular transformation are essential to proper research and clinical management of cancer.
Audience: As a foundational book, its target audience is advanced students (graduate or medical); however, the detail and variety in the book also make it a useful review for basic/clinical researchers and more advanced medical practitioners. The contributors are recognized in their fields and many have active research pertaining to their topics.
Features: The book has many appealing features. For instance, chapters are well organized and logically structured. Sections are subdivided and succinct, and a bulleted summary highlights important details for each chapter. This allows for easy reading and quick reference when returning to specific items. Despite the many expert contributors, the authors use a consistent format from chapter to chapter. Additionally, trials and key publications are well summarized throughout each section; data presented is high-yield, yet easily accessible. Chapters also regularly use helpful figures and visual aids, which effectively summarize detailed processes or concepts and are easy to interpret. Another appealing highlight of some chapters is the description of basic science, laboratory, and imaging techniques in cancer biology, which helps contextualize current advances and understanding. The few limitations relate to the breadth of material. For example, while comprehensively discussing genetic, molecular, and cellular details of cancer biology, the book dedicates only a few chapters to a broader summary of direct cancer treatment and management. This is not necessarily a detriment, as a detailed review of oncology therapeutics is beyond the scope and purpose of the book. The chapters on radiotherapy, immunotherapy, and chemotherapy principles provide an excellent overview and summary of these techniques.
Assessment: This is an excellent overview of cancer biology and advances in the field. The content is current, engaging, easy to understand, and provides a solid foundation for a wide variety of medical and scientific professionals.

Doody's Review Service

"This is an excellent overview of cancer biology and advances in the field. The content is current, engaging, easy to understand, and provides a solid foundation for a wide variety of medical and scientific professionals. 5 stars!" — George M Rodgers, Doody's Reviews

"a comprehensive and current account of this rapidly evolving field ... this book is an essential resource for scholars and professionals working in the wide variety of sub-disciplines that make up today's cancer research and treatment community." — Anticancer Research

From the Publisher