- Email: [email protected]
The Biological Basis of Cancer
Differentiation (2008) 76:221 DOI: 10.1111/j.1432-0436.2007.00254.x
r 2007, Copyright the Author Journal compilation r 2007, International Society of Differentiation
BOOK REVIE W
The Biological Basis of Cancer Edited by Robert G. McKinnell, Ralph E. Parchment, Alan O. Perantoni, Ivan Damjanov, and G. Barry Pierce, Cambridge University Press, West Nyack, NY, 2nd edition, 2006, 473 pp, US$55.
‘‘The Biological Basis of Cancer’’ is a revised and significantly updated edition of the first book published in 1998. The authors cover the subject from the molecular basis of cancer through its cellular, tissue, and gross anatomical structure to its clinical aspects and treatments. Initially, the reader is introduced to actual cancer patients by letters written mostly by patients or relatives. The letters are concrete cases each depicting a type of cancer that is well described, illustrated, and integrated with the scientific and clinical coverage in the subsequent 10 chapters and Appendix. The chapter topics review The Pathology of Cancer, Invasion and Metastasis, Carcinogenesis, Genetics and Heredity, Cancer-Associated Genes, Cancer in Nonhuman Organisms, Epidemiology, Lifestyle, The Stem Cell Basis of Cancer and Treatment, and Oncology. Then an Appendix follows describing selected tumors, and the book concludes with an excellent glossary and an extensive bibliography. The previous edition, used in courses on cancer biology, was listed by the US National Cancer Institute for those wanting to learn about cancer. In fact, McKinnell has given a course on the biology of cancer for 30 years. It is apparent that the clarity of writing stems from the fact that the content has been tested in the classroom. Although the authors recommend their book for upper-level undergraduates and beginning
graduate students with background in biology, this reviewer recommends the book also to teachers including a small series of lectures on cancer within large courses, and for scientists in other fields who want to learn about cancer. Even the non-scientist could profit from the letters and selected chapters. The high quality of the book results from the research or clinical experience of the authors who each contributes his special expertise. McKinnell has researched the herpesvirus-induced renal adenocarcinoma in the frog, Parchment has expertise in drug safety testing and designing clinical trials for evaluating new anticancer agents, Perantoni has studied the oncogene/ suppressor genes in experimental carcinogenesis and the aberrant signaling mechanisms in pediatric tumors, and Damjanov has focused on the developmental aspects of neoplasia and diagnostic pathology of urogenital tumors. The fifth author, G. Barry Pierce, is Centennial Distinguished Research Professor of Pathology Emeritus at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center and world renown for his recognition of the stem cell origin and differentiation of cancer cells. This is a high priority text with excellent illustrations, and I highly recommend it to teachers, students, scientists, and some non-scientists.
Marie A. Di Berardino Drexel University College of Medicine Philadelphia PA, USA
r 2007, Copyright the Author Journal compilation r 2007, International Society of Differentiation
BOOK REVIE W
The Biological Basis of Cancer Edited by Robert G. McKinnell, Ralph E. Parchment, Alan O. Perantoni, Ivan Damjanov, and G. Barry Pierce, Cambridge University Press, West Nyack, NY, 2nd edition, 2006, 473 pp, US$55.
‘‘The Biological Basis of Cancer’’ is a revised and significantly updated edition of the first book published in 1998. The authors cover the subject from the molecular basis of cancer through its cellular, tissue, and gross anatomical structure to its clinical aspects and treatments. Initially, the reader is introduced to actual cancer patients by letters written mostly by patients or relatives. The letters are concrete cases each depicting a type of cancer that is well described, illustrated, and integrated with the scientific and clinical coverage in the subsequent 10 chapters and Appendix. The chapter topics review The Pathology of Cancer, Invasion and Metastasis, Carcinogenesis, Genetics and Heredity, Cancer-Associated Genes, Cancer in Nonhuman Organisms, Epidemiology, Lifestyle, The Stem Cell Basis of Cancer and Treatment, and Oncology. Then an Appendix follows describing selected tumors, and the book concludes with an excellent glossary and an extensive bibliography. The previous edition, used in courses on cancer biology, was listed by the US National Cancer Institute for those wanting to learn about cancer. In fact, McKinnell has given a course on the biology of cancer for 30 years. It is apparent that the clarity of writing stems from the fact that the content has been tested in the classroom. Although the authors recommend their book for upper-level undergraduates and beginning
graduate students with background in biology, this reviewer recommends the book also to teachers including a small series of lectures on cancer within large courses, and for scientists in other fields who want to learn about cancer. Even the non-scientist could profit from the letters and selected chapters. The high quality of the book results from the research or clinical experience of the authors who each contributes his special expertise. McKinnell has researched the herpesvirus-induced renal adenocarcinoma in the frog, Parchment has expertise in drug safety testing and designing clinical trials for evaluating new anticancer agents, Perantoni has studied the oncogene/ suppressor genes in experimental carcinogenesis and the aberrant signaling mechanisms in pediatric tumors, and Damjanov has focused on the developmental aspects of neoplasia and diagnostic pathology of urogenital tumors. The fifth author, G. Barry Pierce, is Centennial Distinguished Research Professor of Pathology Emeritus at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center and world renown for his recognition of the stem cell origin and differentiation of cancer cells. This is a high priority text with excellent illustrations, and I highly recommend it to teachers, students, scientists, and some non-scientists.
Marie A. Di Berardino Drexel University College of Medicine Philadelphia PA, USA