Biology-Driven Targeted Therapy of Pediatric Soft-Tissue and Bone Tumors: Current Opportunities and Future Challenges


Book Description

Recent advances in the understanding of the biological basis of pediatric soft-tissue and bone tumors, especially owing to the advent of “omics” technologies, have led to an exponential increase in the current knowledge on the genetic and cellular patho-mechanisms that drive these diseases. This offers the unprecedented opportunity to develop and implement targeted therapies such as monoclonal antibodies, small molecules, oncolytic viruses, and immunotherapies in standard and/or personalized treatment regimens. However, to date only a few examples document a successful translation of discoveries from the bench to the bedside. Recent international expert congresses further emphasize the urgent need for a more rapid and especially more successful translational process. Hence, we strongly believe that a Frontiers Research Topic aiming at this aspect would fit just in time and be relevant for a broad readership. This Frontiers Research Topic intended to provide a platform for active and interdisciplinary discussion, to summarize current state-of-the-art knowledge on all basic research and translational aspects in pediatric soft-tissue and bone tumors, and to offer new perspectives on how to further promote and accelerate the translational process. It comprises high-quality original articles and timely reviews.




Targeting Notch in Cancer


Book Description

The serendipitously discovered link between developmental biology and cancer, touched of an explosion of discoveries on the role of Notch in human malignancies, including every aspect of cancer biology, from control of differentiation, proliferation and apoptosis in transformed cells to angiogenesis, tumor-stroma interaction and anti-cancer immune responses. A number of observations have revealed that Notch even plays a role in the renewal of cancer stem cells and tumor initiating cells, which are thought to be a major cause of resistance to treatment. Targeting Notch in Cancer will provide researchers, oncologists, pharmacologists and students with a detailed understanding of the intricate cross-talk between Notch and other pathways of therapeutic interest so to better design rational drug combinations for specific diseases and disease subsets. Divided into two parts, Part I describes in detail what we know about the genetics, molecular biology, biochemistry and structural biology of Notch, as well as the role of Notch in such processes as angiogenesis and immune surveillance. Without insights gained from these basic studies, rational targeting of Notch in human disease would be impossible. Part II describes the role of Notch and ongoing experimental therapeutic efforts in the most important subtypes of human cancers, organized in a clinically oriented fashion by organs and systems affected




Pediatric Surgical Oncology


Book Description

This volume is devoted to the overall management of solid tumors in children. Recent advances in the use of monoclonal antibodies for diagnosis and possible treatment are presented. New approaches to the complete care of the child and family as well as specific developments in the treatment of defined conditions are discussed. A particular contribution deals with congential dysplasia of soft tissue. The material analyzed for this topic was taken from a unique collections of clinical cases supplemented by detailed laboratory studies.




Childhood Cancer and Functional Impacts Across the Care Continuum


Book Description

Since the late 1960s, the survival rate in children and adolescents diagnosed with cancer has steadily improved, with a corresponding decline in the cancer-specific death rate. Although the improvements in survival are encouraging, they have come at the cost of acute, chronic, and late adverse effects precipitated by the toxicities associated with the individual or combined use of different types of treatment (e.g., surgery, radiation, chemotherapy). In some cases, the impairments resulting from cancer and its treatment are severe enough to qualify a child for U.S. Social Security Administration disability benefits. At the request of Social Security Administration, Childhood Cancer and Functional Impacts Across the Care Continuum provides current information and findings and conclusions regarding the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of selected childhood cancers, including different types of malignant solid tumors, and the effect of those cancers on childrenâ (TM)s health and functional capacity, including the relative levels of functional limitation typically associated with the cancers and their treatment. This report also provides a summary of selected treatments currently being studied in clinical trials and identifies any limitations on the availability of these treatments, such as whether treatments are available only in certain geographic areas.




Advances in Cancer Research


Book Description

Advances in Cancer Research, Volume 137, the latest release in this ongoing, well-regarded serial provides invaluable information on the exciting and fast-moving field of cancer research. This volume presents original reviews on research bridging oncology and gene expression, with this volume covering unconventional approaches to modulating the immunogenicity of tumor cells, tumor dormancy and immunoediting, the emerging role of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins in chemoresistance, Beclin-1 and autophagy, MDA-7/IL-24, and nanotechnology and medicine.







Soft Tissue and Bone Tumours


Book Description

PLEASE NOTE: Text has been accidentally deleted from page 54 of this book. Please refer to the corrigenda (PDF file) posted on the Stylus Publishing web site or email [email protected] for an updated, printable page. ****When not purchasing directly from the official sales agents of the WHO, especially at online bookshops, please note that there have been issues with counterfeited copies. Buy only from known sellers and if there are quality issues, please contact the seller for a refund.***** Soft Tissue and Bone Tumours is the third volume in the 5th edition of the WHO series on the classification of human tumours. This series (also known as the WHO Blue Books) is regarded as the gold standard for the diagnosis of tumours and comprises a unique synthesis of histopathological diagnosis with digital and molecular pathology. These authoritative and concise reference books provide indispensable international standards for anyone involved in the care of patients with cancer or in cancer research, underpinning individual patient treatment as well as research into all aspects of cancer causation, prevention, therapy, and education. This volume will be of particular interest to pathologists, oncologists, surgeons, and epidemiologists who manage or research soft tissue and bone tumours. Sections are included on all recognized neoplasms of the soft tissue and bone, as well as on genetic tumour syndromes affecting these sites. Since the previous edition, there have been changes based on recent molecular and genetic information, with impact on clinical practice.







Histiocytic Disorders


Book Description

This volume provides a comprehensive and world-class review of the field of histiocytic neoplasms and hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). It reviews all the advances in the field of histiocytoses during the last ten years, particularly with regards to the genomic findings in LCH and other histiocytic neoplasms and the new suggested classification of the histiocytic disorders. Additionally, it features a state-of-the art update on the most recent treatment strategies for LCH, including the results of the last LCH-III international trial, salvage therapies such as reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) stem cell transplant (SCT), and targeted therapies with BRAF and MEK inhibitors, as well as the challenging cases of CNS-neurodegenerative LCH and its therapeutic perspectives. For primary and secondary HLH the book updates the most recent genetic and pathophysiological findings, including macrophage-activation syndrome (MAS), and includes a special chapter on HLH in adults. Treatment chapters encompass therapy for newly diagnosed HLH and refractory disease as well as stem-cell transplantation and novel therapies. The text also highlights the most recent advances in the treatment of the uncommon histiocytic disorders, such as Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD), Juvenile xanthogranuloma (JXG) and JXG-like conditions, Rosai-Dorfman disease (RDD), and the very rare malignant histiocytoses. Written by international experts in the field, Histiocytic Disorders is a valuable resource for clinicians, researchers, fellows and residents who are interested in or manage histiocytic disorders in children and adults.




Current Advances in Osteosarcoma


Book Description

Current Advances in Osteosarcoma edited by Dr. Eugenie S. Kleinerman summarizes molecular and genetic characteristics, new therapeutic ideas, and biological characteristics that have been uncovered in the past 10 years. Osteosarcoma is an aggressive malignant neoplasm and it is also the most common histological form of bone cancer. It accounts for approximately 56% of new bone tumors, making it the most primary malignant bone tumor in children and adolescents. The lungs are the most common site of metastases and once osteosarcoma spreads to the lungs, it is very difficult to treat. To improve the outcome of this disease, the biology of osteosarcoma needs to be better understood. There are numerous investigators around the world who have made seminal discoveries about the important molecular pathways and genetic alterations that contribute to the development and metastases of osteosarcoma. Other investigators have proposed novel therapeutic strategies including some based on the molecular and genetic phenotype of the disease. Current Advances in Osteosarcoma summarizes all of these new discoveries in one singular text, which will help move the field forward.