This book embraces the wide field of prostate cancer genetics, biology, and therapy. It seems most appropriate to dedicate it to Donald S. Coffey, PhD, whose research vision is an inspiration to his colleagues and friends. Unraveling the secrets of prostate cancer is an intricate and sometimes frustrating process involving many researchers and many institutions. No one has seen through to the end of this road, and the list of researchers who have contributed to our understanding of the disease processes of prostate cancer is already a long one. But Donald Coffey stands out in his personal qualities as surely as in his roles as teacher and researcher. In the dedicatory article that begins this volume, Dr. Ward has spoken for all of us about Don Coffey''s unique determination to build the road to defeat prostate cancer. This book is divided into three sections: Cancer Genetics, Cancer Biology, and Cancer Therapeutics. These sections, like the skill and knowledge of the contributors, overlap in many dimensions. The divisions between sections are somewhat arbitrary and have been made expressly for the convenience of the reader. The reader will find chapters in each section that illuminate aspects ofthe genetics, biology, and therapy of prostate cancer. Nothing better illustrates the breadth of the research being conducted today by these distinguished groups, who truly understand and appreciate the power of multi disciplinary and translational approaches to deciphering the intricacy of the object of this research.
