Ronald B. Herberman - Böcker

Where do you begin to look for a recent, authoritative article on the diagnosis or management of a particular malignancy? The few general onco­ logy textbooks are generally out of date. Single papers in specialized journals are informative but seldom comprehensive; these are more often prelimi­ nary reports on a very limited number of patients. Certain general journals frequently publish good indepth reviews of cancer topics, and published symposium lectures are often the best overviews available. Unfortunately, these reviews and supplements appear sporadically, and the reader can never be sure when a topic of special interest will be covered. Cancer Treatment and Research is a series of authoritative volumes which aim to meet this need. It is an attempt to establish a critical mass of oncology literature covering virtually all oncology topics, revised frequently to keep the coverage up to date, easily available on a single library shelf or by a single personal subscription. We have approached the problem in the following fashion. First, by divid­ ing the oncology literature into specific subdivisions such as lung cancer, genitourinary cancer, pediatric oncology, etc. Second, by asking eminent authorities in each of these areas to edit a volume on the specific topic on an annual or biannual basis. Each topic and tumor type is covered in a volume appearing frequently and predictably, discussing current diagnosis, staging, markers, all forms of treatment modalities, basic biology, and more.

This volume is the second in the 'Cancer Treatment and Research' series focussing on basic and clinical tumor immunology. It has a rather different focus or emphasis from that of the first volume, published two years ago. That work (Basic and Clinical Tumor Immunology, R.B. Herberman, ed., Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, 1983) devoted considerable attention to up­ dated summaries in various areas of classical tumor immunology: specific antitumor immunity, the immunologic competence of cancer patietns, char­ acterization of human tumor-associated antigens, the ability to propagate specifically immune T cells in culture in the presence of interleukin 2, and the use of such cells for adoptive immunotherapy of established tumors. of evidence concerning the immune However, it also reviewed the status surveillance hypothesis and pointed out the need to consider non-T cell mediated mechanisms of host resistance. In particular, one chapter sum­ marized information on the role of macrophages in host resistance against tumors. The present volume continues to emphasize one of the major themes of the first volume, innovative approaches to the therapy of cancer. It involves contributions from leading investigators on several primary types of therapeutic interventions related to monoclonal antibodies, the col­ laboration of monoclonal antibodies with macro phages to mediate antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity, lymphokines, tumor vaccines, and natural killer cells. It also has an up-to-date summary of the immunologic aspects of the exciting and promising work being performed on human T cell leukemia virus in the laboratory of Dr. Robert Gallo.

It is widely recognized that the host response to tumor munotherapy of experimental metastases in animal systems progression is an important determinant in cancer growth which are beginning to be developed for ultimate clinical and progression. Indeed, as indicated in Volume I of this trials of human cancer metastasis. series, the process of cancer growth and progression, leading This volume explores a variety of host properties that to tumor invasion and metastasis, is dependent upon the influence tumor development including dormancy, regress­ complex, dynamic interactions between the properties of the ion, and recurrence. In addition, current knowledge of the tumor as well as the properties of the host. While Volume III response of the central nervous system to cancer, cardiac of this series reviews in great detail the influence of tumor and pulmonary complications, dermatologic effects and development on the host, this volume emphasizes the in­ hematologic complications of malignancies is presented. fluence of the host on tumor development. These host re­ The endocrine and metabolic function of cancer patients, as sponses include host anti-tumor immune reactivity, tumor well as the production of hormones by tumors is also review­ dormancy, cachexia, multiple endocrine and paraneoplastic ed.

This volume is the second in the 'Cancer Treatment and Research' series focussing on basic and clinical tumor immunology. It has a rather different focus or emphasis from that of the first volume, published two years ago. That work (Basic and Clinical Tumor Immunology, R.B. Herberman, ed., Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, 1983) devoted considerable attention to up­ dated summaries in various areas of classical tumor immunology: specific antitumor immunity, the immunologic competence of cancer patietns, char­ acterization of human tumor-associated antigens, the ability to propagate specifically immune T cells in culture in the presence of interleukin 2, and the use of such cells for adoptive immunotherapy of established tumors. of evidence concerning the immune However, it also reviewed the status surveillance hypothesis and pointed out the need to consider non-T cell mediated mechanisms of host resistance. In particular, one chapter sum­ marized information on the role of macrophages in host resistance against tumors. The present volume continues to emphasize one of the major themes of the first volume, innovative approaches to the therapy of cancer. It involves contributions from leading investigators on several primary types of therapeutic interventions related to monoclonal antibodies, the col­ laboration of monoclonal antibodies with macro phages to mediate antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity, lymphokines, tumor vaccines, and natural killer cells. It also has an up-to-date summary of the immunologic aspects of the exciting and promising work being performed on human T cell leukemia virus in the laboratory of Dr. Robert Gallo.