Breast Cancer: Biological and Clinical Progress : Proceedings of the Conference of the International Association for Breast Cancer Research, St. Vincent, Aosta Valley, Italy, May 26–29, 1991

The fight against breast cancer is expected to be effectively stimulated by interdisciplinary approaches and cross-fertilization between laboratory and clinical research findings. Of major importance are therefore meetings promoting fast transfer to clinical applications of findings by basic scientists. The present volume, reporting the proceedings of the 1991 Biennial Conference of the International Association for Breast Cancer Research, hopes to achieve this goal by presenting the most recent observations in the laboratory and their possible applications for diagnostic evaluations and clinical treatments. The sections of the book focus first on the oncogenes more likely involved in mammary tumorigenesis and on the polypeptide factors and steroid hormones affecting proliferation and possibly inducing carcinogenesis in breast epithelium. A section is devoted to the epidemiological studies and to the identification of risk factors, a way to select populations at higher risk and, possibly, to help in preventing the disease. Special emphasis is given to the establishment of diagnostic criteria and to the selection of prognostic factors, which must support an effective therapeutic planning. It is our hope that this volume, a timely update of the most recent advances in specific fields presented by basic scientists, pathologists and clinicians will stimulate new insights and progresses leading ultimately to the control of breast cancer. Front Matter....Pages i-xix Front Matter....Pages 1-1 The Role of Oncogenes and Onco-Suppressor Genes in Human Breast Cancer....Pages 3-10 Expression of the MET Oncogene in Human Tumors....Pages 11-21 c- erb B-2, a Tyrosine Kinase Growth Factor Receptor and its Role in Breast Cancer....Pages 23-40 Mammary Morphogenesis and Oncogenes....Pages 41-55 Front Matter....Pages 57-57 Interdependence of Hormones and Growth Factors in Lobulo-Alveolar Development of the Mammary Gland and in Tumorigenesis....Pages 59-80 The Role of Estrogen Regulated Secreted Proteins for Growth Regulation of Human Breast Cancer....Pages 81-91 The Prolactin-Inducible Protein / Gross Cystic Disease Fluid Protein (PIP/GCDFP-15): Genetic Analysis and Hormonal Regulation of Gene Expression....Pages 93-101 Front Matter....Pages 103-103 Role of Ras Oncogene in Human Breast Cancer: An Experimental Approach....Pages 105-117 Interactions Between Malignant and Non-Malignant Components of the Breast....Pages 119-136 Involvement of Heparanase and Extracellular Matrix-Bound Fibroblast Growth Factor in Tumor Progression....Pages 137-150 Front Matter....Pages 151-151 Estrogen and Progesterone Receptor Activity in Breast Cancer Cells....Pages 153-167 Oral Contraceptives and Breast Cancer: The Scope for a Hypothesis-Oriented Approach....Pages 169-177 Front Matter....Pages 179-179 Benign Breast Disease: Links to Risk of Cancer....Pages 181-193 Proliferation Rate in Different Cell Types in Benign Breast Disease....Pages 195-206 Aspects of Cell Mediated Immunity in Monitoring Breast Cancer....Pages 207-224 New Approaches to the Study of Selenium’s Chemopreventive Properties....Pages 225-232 Front Matter....Pages 233-233 Cell Kinetics as an Indicator for Prognosis and Therapy....Pages 235-242 Cathepsin D and Breast Cancer Metastasis : Biological and Clinical Significance....Pages 243-253 Diagnostic tools and prognostic factors in human breast cancer evaluated by morphological and immunohistochemical methods....Pages 255-276 Front Matter....Pages 277-277 Oestrogen-Deprivation in Breast Cancer: Clinical and Experimental Observations....Pages 279-289 Front Matter....Pages 277-277 Polyamines and Growth Factors as Possible Targets for Antitumor Therapy in Breast Cancer....Pages 291-299 New Diagnostic Methods and Treatment Modalities in Breast Cancer....Pages 301-311

The fight against breast cancer is expected to be effectively stimulated by interdisciplinary approaches and cross-fertilization between laboratory and clinical research findings. Of major importance, therefore, are meetings that promote rapid transfer to clinical applications of findings by basic scientists. This volume reports the proceedings of the 1991 Biennial Conference of the International Association for Breast Cancer Research and seeks to achieve this goal by presenting the most recent observations in the laboratory and their possible applications for diagnostic evalutions and clinical treatments.
The sections of the book focus first on the oncogenes more likely involved in mammary tumorigenesis and on the polypaptide factors and steroid hormones affecting proliferation and possibly inducing carcinogenesis in breast epithelium. A section is devoted to the epidemiological studies and to the identification of risk factors; a way to select populations at higher risk and, possibly, to help in preventing the disease. Special emphasis is given to the establishment of diagnostic criteria and to the selection of prognostic factors, which must support an effective therapeutic planning.
This volume is a timely update of the most recent advances in specific fields presented by basic scientists, pathologists and clinicians and will stimulate new insights and progresses leading ultimately to the control of breast cancer.

Proceedings of the Conference of the International Association for Breast Cancer Research, St. Vincent, Aosta Valley, Italy, May 26-29, 1991