The purpose of this book-the fourth volume of a series on Can cer Markers-is intended to provide an updated "status report" on today's use of cancer markers in the diagnosis and monitoring of can cer, with an emphasis on cancer markers detected in the serum. It has been 7 years since the publication of the last volume in this series. The 1980, 1982, and 1985 volumes covered the development of cancer markers, not only in their roles of unraveling the basic biology of can cer, but also as increasingly important players in the management of patients with cancer. During the last 7 years we have...

Developmental cancer products (oncodevelopmental markers, ODM) not only serve as diagnostic and prognostic indicators but also may be used to study the nature of the carcinogenic process and the biology of tumors. For many years oncologists have searched for markers of cancer cells that would permit unequivocal recognition of cancer in contrast to noncancerous tissue. The earliest and still most widely used method of identification of cancer tissue or cells is the structural resemblance of cancer tissue to fetal or immature tissue. Pathologists not only recognize cancer by its morphologic...

This represents the third volume in a series on cancer markers pub lished by the Humana Press. The first volume, published in 1980, stressed the relationship of development and cancer as reflected in the production of markers by cancer that are also produced by normal cells during fetal development. The concept that cancer represents a problem of differentiation was introduced by Barry Pierce in describing differenti ation of teratocarcinomas. Highlighted were lymphocyte markers, alphafetoprotein, carcinoembryonic antigen, ectopic hormones, enzymes and isozymes, pregnancy proteins, and...

The conceptual process of drug discovery is one that is often the result of an identified need in a defined disease area. This need represents a mandate from the marketing department of a phar maceutical company or a breakthrough at the research level that has agreed applicability in response to a valid therapeutic demand. Although the intelligent design and development of new thera peutic entities, as evidenced by Sir James Black's H -receptor an 2 tagonist cimetidine (Tagamet), is intellectually satisfying, many novel drugs arise from serendipity, from the chance observation of the research...

The ability to diagnose cancer by simple measurement of a serum or tissue' 'marker" has been a goal of medical science for many years. There is ample evidence that tumor cells are different from normal cells and pro duce substances that can be detected by currently available immuno chemical or biochemical methods. These "cancer markers" may be se creted proteins, enzymes, hormones, fetal serum components, monoclonal immunoglobulins, cell surface components, or cytoplasmic constituents. The purpose of this book is to present the current status of our knowledge of such cancer markers. The first...

In 1868, Ernst Neumann recognized that blood cells re- quire continuous replenishment during postnata1life. Before him, the assumption was that cells of the blood, like nerves once formed in the embryo, remain in the body throughout life. Neumann also recognized that this process occurred within the bone marrow, because this tissue provided a fa- vorable environment for proliferation and differentiation of blood cell precursors. Vera Danchakoff, the Russian embryologist working in the US, in 1916 made an analogy to the soil and the seed. Bone marrow forms the soil, providing a favorable...

Regulation of malignant cell growth by the immune system has been extensively studied by cancer researchers hoping to develop immuno therapeutic approaches to cancer management. For years these studies revolved around the recognition and destruction of tumors by cytotox. ic immune effector cells. Recently, however, attention has focused on the leukolysins, which are the soluble cytotoxic molecules secreted by activated leukocytes, because of their anticancer activities. The purpose of this book is to give an overview of the ieukolysins, with emphasis on their ability to regulate malignant...

Cancer has become the most critical health problem in the United States. It is expected that 25% of the people will develop this dread disease, and many of these will die from the malady. The causes of cancer are varied, but the best estimate available is that 70--90% arise from environmental factors. These statistics have triggered widespread governmental action along two lines: (l) An effort to identify those chemicals and conditions that give rise to malignant processes has been mounted by the Carcino genesis Testing Program, the National Cancer Program, and subse quently, the National...

An unprecedented compilation of state-of-the-art advances in clinical research by premier clinical scientists around the world. This volume discusses the methods of clinical research and the interpretation of their results in studies of normal individuals, obese subjects, and patients with diabetes mellitus. Along the way, the authoritative contributors writing here illuminate how changes in the hormone action and substrate metabolism of healthy humans may lead to obesity and noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

A unique, integrated collection of original contributions on the molecular biology, physiology, and pathology of endothelin. Leading academic, clinical, and industrial researchers summarize the dramatic recent progress in endothelin research and indicate the optimal direction of future studies. The contributors produce a critical evaluation of endothelin chemistry and pharmacology, its mechanism of action, and its physiological functions. The book is certain to become the new standard reference source for both basic scientists and informed clinicians who want a clear idea of the roles...