This volume deals with the structure and function of molecules that have, during the last decade, turned out to have a central role in immune responses. Trans plantation antigens were discovered and characterized by Gorer about 50 years ago, and the biological basis for the unequalled complexity of their variability between individuals within a species, in spite of extreme conservation between species, was the subject of intense research and discussion for many years. During the days of belief in "immune surveillance" against spontaneously developing tumors, it was suggested that...

Malignant melanoma is the focus of investigations which range from basic re search to clinical trials with conventional therapy and with biological response modifiers. The involvement of investigators with different backgrounds in combi nation with recent progress in biotechnology has facilitated the characterization of the antigenic profile of melanoma cells, the analysis of the structural and function al properties of melanoma-associated antigens, and the application of immuno diagnostic and immunotherapeutic approaches to melanoma. As a result, a large body of information about various...

With this book we. want to address young graduate students, clini cians involved in transplantation, and technicians in transplantation immunology laboratories. The volume should give a comprehensive but basic, up to date introduction to the structure, function, and clinical importance of the HLA system. We believe that there is a need for such a survey, and think that the present level of our knowledge is an optimal occasion for publication. A significant number of ques tions have now been resolved, and our knowledge has reached a level of sophistication that provides the basis for...

In recent years much progress has been made in knowledge and understanding of the biology of cutaneous melanoma. In this respect etiological factors, prognostic factors, antigen expression of melanoma cells, immune response and mechanisms of metastasis formation have to be mentioned. It is the purpose of this book to give a review on fundamental aspects, diagnosis and prognosis, and treatment of cutaneous melanoma and precursor lesions. Moreover, previously unpublished new data are presented. A post-graduate Boerhaave course "Cutaneous Melanoma and Precursor Lesions" was held at Leiden...

The ever-expanding research on human cancer has resulted in numerous technical and conceptual advances during the last few years. Serological, structural, and biological char acterization of human melanoma constitutes one area of research that has received consid erable attention from researchers and clinicians and has generated new and exciting infor mation. In this volume, we have attempted to assemble work on topics that produced some of the most recent advances. We asked each author to describe and interpret his most cur rent research and, whenever possible, to compare and contrast it...