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...

Seventeen cutting-edge chapters review both basic research and clinical applications of chromosomal markers of cancer. The new markers offer great promise, not only for their clinical utility in diagnosis, prognosis, and disease monitoring, but also for their contributions to a better understanding of the mechanisms of tumor development and progression. The chapters-all written by leading authorities-skillfully reveal fresh insights into the translational role of cytogenetics in identifying the cellular and molecular changes that occur in cancer. Coverage is devoted to many tissue...

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...