Molecular and Immunologic Approaches

From The Critics

Reviewer: Peter H. Domer, MD(Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine)
Description: This is a review of the recent advances in molecular oncology and how they may be used in cancer prevention, detection, diagnosis, and treatment. These include topics such as the polymerase chain reaction, tumor markers, antisense oligonucleotides, and antibody conjugates.
Purpose: The purpose is to describe some of the new approaches to cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. The authors are a respected group from a number of institutions and some are leaders in their fields.
Audience: This book will be of interest to oncologists, public health workers, and cancer researchers.
Features: The chapters on oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes include an especially interesting discussion of the potential role of inhibitors of tyrosine kinase receptors in chemotherapy. The potential use of mediators of apoptosis is, however, neglected. The sections on antisense-oligonucleotides and triple-helix therapy are well done and among the most provocative. The immunotherapy section includes chapters on antibody-guided radioimmunotherapy, bispecific antibodies, toxin conjugates, and the synergistic use of cytokines and monoclonal antibodies. The last chapter is the most interesting, but more tightly focused than the others, leaving one wondering about other areas where this combination therapy could be applied.
Assessment: The chapters are uniformly well written, but some seem a bit too short, lacking important detail. Like any work of this type it runs the risk of becoming outdated, but enough general principles are discussed to give the book lasting value. This book meets its goals of reviewing this rapidly expanding and exciting area and would make a good addition to any biomedical library.

Peter H. Domer

This is a review of the recent advances in molecular oncology and how they may be used in cancer prevention, detection, diagnosis, and treatment. These include topics such as the polymerase chain reaction, tumor markers, antisense oligonucleotides, and antibody conjugates. The purpose is to describe some of the new approaches to cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. The authors are a respected group from a number of institutions and some are leaders in their fields. This book will be of interest to oncologists, public health workers, and cancer researchers. The chapters on oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes include an especially interesting discussion of the potential role of inhibitors of tyrosine kinase receptors in chemotherapy. The potential use of mediators of apoptosis is, however, neglected. The sections on antisense-oligonucleotides and triple-helix therapy are well done and among the most provocative. The immunotherapy section includes chapters on antibody-guided radioimmunotherapy, bispecific antibodies, toxin conjugates, and the synergistic use of cytokines and monoclonal antibodies. The last chapter is the most interesting, but more tightly focused than the others, leaving one wondering about other areas where this combination therapy could be applied. The chapters are uniformly well written, but some seem a bit too short, lacking important detail. Like any work of this type it runs the risk of becoming outdated, but enough general principles are discussed to give the book lasting value. This book meets its goals of reviewing this rapidly expanding and exciting area and would make a good addition to any biomedical library.

3 Stars from Doody