The Impact of Tumor Biology on Cancer Treatment and Multidisciplinary Strategies (Medical Radiology / Radiation Oncology)

This book 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. 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. Subsequent chapters discuss the principles of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and molecularly targeted therapy, explain treatment resistance, and provide strategies for rational combinations, including the design of translational studies. Furthermore, the principles and clinical implications of diverse new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches 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.