The Impact Of Tumor Biology On Cancer Treatment And Multidisciplinary Strategies (medical Radiology)

This book provides an overview of the fundamentals of tumor biology and the influence of various biologic factors, including inhomogeneity of cancer cells, microenvironment, and host factors, on the design of therapeutic strategies and the outcome of established and emerging treatments. Particular attention is devoted to multidisciplinary combined modality therapy. The topics reviewed include tumorigenesis, cell proliferation, angiogenesis, physiology of malignant tissues, adhesion and invasion, development of metastases, and the role of the immune system in cancer development. Subsequent chapters focus on cancer prevention, detection, and treatment. The principles of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and molecularly targeted therapy are discussed, treatment resistance is explained, and strategies for rational combinations are provided, including the design of translational studies. Furthermore, the principles and clinical implications of new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, such as gene expression profiling, gene transfer and silencing, proteomics, and molecular imaging, are presented. The chapters in this book have been written by an outstanding group of basic scientists, clinical researchers, and cancer professionals with long experience in the field. Their aim is to educate and inspire all those who devote most of their work to research into cancer and its treatment. Front Matter....Pages I-X Tumorigenesis....Pages 1-17 Tumor Growth and Cell Proliferation....Pages 19-37 Tumor Angiogenesis....Pages 39-50 Pathophysiology of Solid Tumors....Pages 51-92 Adhesion, Invasion, Integrins, and Beyond....Pages 93-115 The Biology of Cancer Metastasis....Pages 117-128 Role of the Immune System in Cancer Development and Therapeutic Implications....Pages 129-145 Tumor Detection by Biological Markers....Pages 147-151 Tumor Imaging with Special Emphasis on the Role of Positron Emission Tomography in Radiation Treatment Planning....Pages 153-167 Quantitative Cell Kill of Radio- and Chemotherapy....Pages 169-190 The Impact of Molecularly Targeted Therapy in Multi-Modality Therapy....Pages 191-219 Target-Based Interventions to Treat Radiation-Induced Lung Injury....Pages 221-241 Mechanisms of Treatment Resistance: Molecular and Clinical Examples for Radio- and Chemotherapy....Pages 243-250 DNA Repair and Cell Cycle Regulation After Ionizing Irradiation....Pages 251-271 Physiological Mechanisms of Treatment Resistance....Pages 273-290 Influence of Time Factor and Repopulation on Treatment Resistance....Pages 291-298 Molecular Tools, Expression Profiling....Pages 299-311 Strategies of Gene Transfer and Silencing, and Technical Considerations....Pages 313-321 Tumor Biology’s Impact on Clinical Cure Rates....Pages 323-334 Dose-Escalated High-Precision Radiotherapy: a Method to Overcome Variations in Biology and Radiosensitivity Limiting the Success of Conventional Approaches?....Pages 335-346 Treatment of the Primary Tumor in Metastatic Cancer: Influence on Outcome....Pages 347-354 Back Matter....Pages 355-367 Te rapidly changing concepts in radiation oncology with the development of more precise - strumentation for delivery of radiation therapy and a greater emphasis on hypofractionation technologies require a very intimate knowledge of tumor biology and the infuence of various biologic factors on dose distribution within the tumor in terms of homogeneity as well as prev- tion of any late efects on normal tissue surrounding the tumor itself. Not only are these major factors in clinical practice but also the known factors of inhomogeneity of cancer cells, the impact of microenvironment in terms of radiation efect, and host factors make it mandatory to design therapeutic strategies to improve the outcome and to diminish any potential short-term or lo- term risks from the radiation therapy. Te authors have developed an outstanding text that deals with these strategies and how they would impact on established and emerging new technologies and treatment. Te context of the presentations within a multidisciplinary combined modality therapy program is incredibly - portant. In this volume, various topics are reviewed including tumor genesis, cell proliferation, - giogenesis, the physiologic characteristics of malignant tissues, invasion and adhesion, the route and role pursued in the development of metastasis, and the role of the human immune system in cancer prevention and development. This text provides a detailed overview of the fundamentals of tumor biology and the influence of biologic factors on the design of therapeutic strategies and the outcome of established and emerging treatments. Particular attention is devoted to multidisciplinary combined modality therapy