Volker Diehl - Böcker

This issue of Hematology/Oncology Clinics is focused on Hodgkin's Lymphoma and covers such topics as First HRS-cell line L428 and the detection of the CD-30 Antigen , "Normal" CD30-B-lymphocytes, CD-30-Antigen, Combination-Chemo-Radiotherapy, Early intensification (escBEACOPP), Customized/Targeted Therapy, and more.

In the field of Hodgkin's lymphoma, many new data have been collected during the last decade both on the cell of origin of this disease and on more effective therapies to cure the majority of pa­ tients even in the advanced stages. Therefore, it seems to be justi­ fied to compile these new data in a special volume of Recent Re­ sults in Cancer Research. This volume summarizes the contribu­ tions presented at the First International Symposium on Hodgkin's Disease that took place in Cologne (FRG) on October 2-3, 1988. There is little doubt that the Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg (H and RS) cells and their variants represent the malignant population in Hodgkin's lymphoma; however, there is still a fierce debate as to the possible cell of origin of Hand RS cells. Many of the problems confounding earlier research into this question were related to the difficulty or virtual impossibility, of obtaining purified populations of Hand RS cells. Most of the recent progress stems from the establishment of permanent cell lines of Hand RS cells in culture.

Malignancies originating from the urogenital tract account for about 20% of all solid neoplasias. The various tumor types, including carcinoma of the prostate, transitional cell carcinoma, renal cell carcinoma, and testicular germ cell tumors, differ widely in terms of biological features, in­ cidence and appearance, diagnostic work-up and manage­ ment. It is not surprising that this complexity of urologic oncology with its related problems has increasingly attracted both experimental investigators and clinical experts. Only time will tell whether the achievements that today are con­ sidered· as progress will turn out to be significant contribu­ tions towards the ultimate goal: the cure of the patients' life-threatening diseases with little or no side effects. How­ ever, many innovations and improvements have already taken place in the field of urologic oncology within recent years. The high pace of innovative development requires continuous, thorough, and critical updating of our kowledge so that persisting deficits can be defined: the basic require­ ment for posing new scientific questions. The following examples may serve to illustrate the recent developments and the resulting new problems and questions: Recently, it has become evident that carcinoma of the prostate must be detected earlier to enable us to cure more of the affected patients in the future than currently.