Cancer of the Lung: From Molecular Biology to Treatment Guidelines (Current Clinical Oncology)

Despite recent advances in our understanding of lung cancer and the implementation of many new preventive measures, this terrible disease remains the leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States, as well as a major cause of such deaths worldwide. In Cancer of the Lung: From Molecular Biology to Treatment Guidelines, Alan B. Weitberg, MD, and a panel of internationally recognized basic scientists and clinicians present a comprehensive discussion of lung cancer, including a practice-oriented review of its diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment. The contributors offer not only an understandable description of its molecular origins-an essential key to developing future therapies and preventive measures-but also rigorously discuss already well-tested approaches, as well as those that are currently being evaluated for future use in both the laboratory and clinic. The book also elucidates the creation and effective deployment of treatment guidelines introduced by third party payers to improve clinical outcomes, even while lowering healthcare costs, including those entailed by malpractice litigation. Comprehensive and highly readable, Cancer of the Lung: From Molecular Biology to Treatment Guidelines offers today's oncologists, internists, and residents not only a clear and concise introduction to its molecular biology, but also a state-of-the-art practical review of all the current and developing diagnostic and treatment options for patients

Written for oncologists, internists, and residents, this book provides a comprehensive discussion of lung cancer, including an introduction to its molecular biology, a review of current diagnostic and treatment options, and a discussion of approaches currently being developed. It also elucidates the creation and implementation of third-party treatment guidelines for improving clinical outcomes and lowering healthcare costs. Contributors are scientists and clinicians. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Doody Review Services

Reviewer:Athanassios Argiris, MD(Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine)
Description:Dr. Alan B. Weitberg has edited a comprehensive book on lung cancer that covers areas from molecular biology and pathology to treatment and practice guidelines.
Purpose:According to the editor, the goal of this book is to make molecular biology understandable but also to include the current knowledge on diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment of lung cancer. Indeed, this work contributes a comprehensive but succinct review of accumulated knowledge and an able literature update in a field that undergoes constant evolution.
Audience:This work should be well received by both specialists and generalists, and it may be an easy-to-carry reference for oncology trainees. Chapters are well written by a panel of basic science and clinical experts.
Features:The authors succeed in providing fundamental knowledge on major issues of molecular biology, pathology, epidemiology, and treatment. The latest developments in these fields, for example the use of novel molecular targeted agents in the treatment of lung cancer, are discussed. Treatment aspects of both nonsmall cell and small cell lung cancer are thoroughly covered. A review of the resources for practice guidelines is also included. Duplication of material could not be avoided; an example being the similarities between the two chapters that review molecular biology issues. Also, figures are not in color, which makes the interpretation of histopathological material images somewhat difficult.
Assessment:This book is an addition to an extensive bibliography on lung cancer, a common and devastating disease. Despite some shortcomings that can be improved in subsequent editions, the efforts of the editor and the contributors have yielded a quite readable and useful reference that earns its place in the literature.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in men and women worldwide (1).