- Email: [email protected]
Books for review
De libris Growth factors and their receptors in cancer metastasis Edited by Wen G Jiang, Kunio Matsumoto and Toshikazu Nakamura Kluwer Academic Publishers, 2001 US$115 (£80.03, €130.55), pp 303 ISBN 0792371410
This is volume 2 of Wen G Jiang’s series “Cancer metastasis: biology and treatment”. There has been a large amount of research into the role of growth factors in the development of metastasis and, as more of these substances are identified, or additional roles uncovered, this field looks set to expand. This book gives a general but detailed synopsis of a number of carefully selected areas of interest. It covers a wide range of growth factors that play a part in metastasis, from leukaemia inhibitory factor to platelet derived growth factor. Tracy Martin’s discussion of interleukin 8 (IL8) and angiogenesis is particularly well put together (chapter 3). She begins with a detailed introduction to angiogenesis and then goes on to describe the molecular biology of chemokines. This account is quite basic at the start, but progresses to include complex explanations. The accompanying figures, which include a comprehensive table of the sources, inducers, and targets of IL8, are clear and informative. The section on inhibition of IL8-promoted angiogenesis is based on recent developments with most of the references dating from the last 2 years. Although the majority of the chapters are thorough and well written, they are sometimes out of date. For example, in
This diagram, taken from Growth factors and their receptors in metastasis, illustrates possible mechanisms of IL11 production and bone resorption.
the otherwise good chapter on TGF␣, Martin Oft describes “recent” discoveries which are actually attributed to a paper published in 1998 and therefore not really recent in 2002. Growth-factor research is moving so quickly that the text may soon be superseded by more current information, or may have already been out-dated when it was released. Although the book is informative overall, it is difficult to assess who would find this book most useful. It is aimed at researchers, but it does not seem to contain any information that would not be easily accessible elsewhere. It would perhaps be of most use to undergraduate and postgraduate students who require a detailed guide for reference. Emma Wilkinson
Books for review The Lancet Oncology has review copies of the following books. If you are interested in becoming a book reviewer, or would like some more information, please contact Hannah Brown at The Lancet Oncology, 32 Jamestown Road, Camden, London NW1 7BY, UK. Tel: +44 (0)20 7424 4953. Email: [email protected] Integrated cancer care: holistic, complementary, and creative approaches
Cytomertic analysis of cell phenotype and function McCarthy DA and Macey MG
Muscoskeletal cancer surgery Malawer MM and Sugerbaker PH
Genetic disorders for endocrine neoplasia Dahia PLM and Eng C
Liver-directed therapy for primary and metastatic liver tumours Talamonti MS and Pappas SG
Barraclough J
Communicating with dying people and their relatives
Researching palliative care
Lugton J
Field D, Clark D, Corner J, and Davis C
Procedure-related cancer pain in children
Renal cancer: methods and protocols
Liossi C
Mydlo JH
Gastrointestinal oncology: principles and practices
Tumour angiogenesis and microcirculation
Kelson DP, Daly JM, Kern SE, Levin B, and Tepper JE
Voest EE and D’amore PA
Ovarian cancer
Diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer: an evidence-based guide for the practicing clinican
Stack SM and Fishman DA
Detterbeck FC, Rivera MP, Socinski MA, and Rosenman JG
Bokemeyer C and Ludwig H
320
Anaemia in cancer
THE LANCET Oncology Vol 3 May 2002
http://oncology.thelancet.com
For personal use. Only reproduce with permission from The Lancet Publishing Group.
This is volume 2 of Wen G Jiang’s series “Cancer metastasis: biology and treatment”. There has been a large amount of research into the role of growth factors in the development of metastasis and, as more of these substances are identified, or additional roles uncovered, this field looks set to expand. This book gives a general but detailed synopsis of a number of carefully selected areas of interest. It covers a wide range of growth factors that play a part in metastasis, from leukaemia inhibitory factor to platelet derived growth factor. Tracy Martin’s discussion of interleukin 8 (IL8) and angiogenesis is particularly well put together (chapter 3). She begins with a detailed introduction to angiogenesis and then goes on to describe the molecular biology of chemokines. This account is quite basic at the start, but progresses to include complex explanations. The accompanying figures, which include a comprehensive table of the sources, inducers, and targets of IL8, are clear and informative. The section on inhibition of IL8-promoted angiogenesis is based on recent developments with most of the references dating from the last 2 years. Although the majority of the chapters are thorough and well written, they are sometimes out of date. For example, in
This diagram, taken from Growth factors and their receptors in metastasis, illustrates possible mechanisms of IL11 production and bone resorption.
the otherwise good chapter on TGF␣, Martin Oft describes “recent” discoveries which are actually attributed to a paper published in 1998 and therefore not really recent in 2002. Growth-factor research is moving so quickly that the text may soon be superseded by more current information, or may have already been out-dated when it was released. Although the book is informative overall, it is difficult to assess who would find this book most useful. It is aimed at researchers, but it does not seem to contain any information that would not be easily accessible elsewhere. It would perhaps be of most use to undergraduate and postgraduate students who require a detailed guide for reference. Emma Wilkinson
Books for review The Lancet Oncology has review copies of the following books. If you are interested in becoming a book reviewer, or would like some more information, please contact Hannah Brown at The Lancet Oncology, 32 Jamestown Road, Camden, London NW1 7BY, UK. Tel: +44 (0)20 7424 4953. Email: [email protected] Integrated cancer care: holistic, complementary, and creative approaches
Cytomertic analysis of cell phenotype and function McCarthy DA and Macey MG
Muscoskeletal cancer surgery Malawer MM and Sugerbaker PH
Genetic disorders for endocrine neoplasia Dahia PLM and Eng C
Liver-directed therapy for primary and metastatic liver tumours Talamonti MS and Pappas SG
Barraclough J
Communicating with dying people and their relatives
Researching palliative care
Lugton J
Field D, Clark D, Corner J, and Davis C
Procedure-related cancer pain in children
Renal cancer: methods and protocols
Liossi C
Mydlo JH
Gastrointestinal oncology: principles and practices
Tumour angiogenesis and microcirculation
Kelson DP, Daly JM, Kern SE, Levin B, and Tepper JE
Voest EE and D’amore PA
Ovarian cancer
Diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer: an evidence-based guide for the practicing clinican
Stack SM and Fishman DA
Detterbeck FC, Rivera MP, Socinski MA, and Rosenman JG
Bokemeyer C and Ludwig H
320
Anaemia in cancer
THE LANCET Oncology Vol 3 May 2002
http://oncology.thelancet.com
For personal use. Only reproduce with permission from The Lancet Publishing Group.