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The Genetics of Cancer: Genes associated with cancer invasion, metastasis and cell proliferation
Pathology (1998) 30, pp. 330-331
Pathology (1998), 30, August
BOOK REVIEWS
Surgical Pathology of the Ovaries. 2nd Edition. PETER RUSSELL AND ANNABELLE FAR."1SWORTH. Churchill Livingstone, New York. 1997. ISBN 0-443-05384-7, pp. x + 715. AU$330.00.
Photographic Atlas of Practical Anatomy: Part 1. Abdomen and lower limbs. Volumes 1 & 2. WALTER THIEL. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 1997. ISBN 3-540-61195-9, pp. xii + 416 + vi + 427. AU$385 .00.
This second edition of the Surgical Pathology of the Ovaries provides extensive and well structured information and knowledge of the ovary. The spectrum ranges from common physiological to rare and controversial aspects of ovarian pathology. This new edition expands many areas including proliferating epithelial tumors and those difficult extra ovarian "implants". There is a new chapter on intra-operative cytological diagnosis of ovarian tumors. The chapters on clinical aspects and management have been furtber developed. The text is divided into ten sections comprising 58 chapters. The non-tumor related sections include: fundamental embryology and histology; dysgenesis, dystopia and dysfunction; and inflammatory lesions. There are two chapters on Mullerianosis, surface proliferative lesions and endometriosis. The sections on tumors include epithelial, sex cord-stromal and germ cell tumors, in addition to miscellaneous and metastatic tumors. The appendices comprise up-to-date classifications and stagings as well as comprehensive references on paraneoplastic and inherited syndromes. Unfortunately the slightly thinner low gloss paper, while enhancing the macroscopic photographs, reduces the resolution of some of the micrographs. Is this low gloss paper yet another environmental initiative? I recommend this book to general histopathologists as well as those with a particular interest in ovarian pathology who seek clear, up-to-date descriptions of ovarian pathology. Debra N. Jensen Douglass Hanly Moir Pathology, NSW
The anatomy of the abdomen and lower limb is beautifully illusu'ated in this set of two complimentary books that are part of a comprehensi ve photographic atlas of human topographical anatomy. The two large books (24 X 31 cm) are enclosed in a hard-back holder. Detailed color photographs are presented in one volume and are uncluttered by labelling. In the companion volume the photographs are reproduced in black and white and labelled by vertical and horizontal black arrow head symbols that line up with numbers, keyed in turn to a list of anatomical terms on the adjacent page. Although this sounds rather cumbersome, in practice it works quite well. With the books opened side-by-side, detailed study of the col or photograph is facilitated by identifying structures by reference to the companion volume. The atlas is based on a new preservation technique that causes very little change in the natural appearance of gross anatomic structures and this is shown to best advantage in the photographs of the intestines. All the photographs and most of the detailed cadaveric dissections were done by the author in Oraz, Austria. Although there is no description of technical aspects of the preservation technique and photographic method used, the original references are cited. A stated aim was that the photographic display could be applied directly to surgical procedures, illustrating anatomic detail that is difficult to convey in a standard anatomic textbook. This aim has been latgely realised, although there has been no attempt made at comprehensive illustration of all abdominal and lower extremity operations. The book should have wider appeal as trainee pathologists in particular will find the abdominal dissections very helpful preparation for autopsy work. Surgeons will certainly delight in the dissections of the abdominal wall where the author's concepts of the way vessels and nerves pierce the superficial fascia are depicted. Study of an atlas such as will this be best rewarded if the reader has some prior knowledge of descriptive anatomy. lllustrations of cross-sectional anatomy have been deliberately omitted as the author believes that this knowledge can be gained from the understanding of three-dimensional gross anatomy. This may well be true from a surgical perspective but would be a limitation of the book for radiologists or others who require a detailed knowledge of cross-sectional anatomy. The bibliography cites many of the classic anatomic texts, but only ten of the 46 references are in English language publications. There is a brief but interesting list of the individuals whose names are now anatomic synonyms, such as Colles, Hesselbach and Scarpa. Overall the two volume set serves its intended purpose well and can be recommended to all those who would appreciate a beautiful display of human anatomy. The Photographic Atlas of Practical Anatomy should be an essential addition to the library of any medical institution with responsibility for teaching human anatomy, as well as university and hospital departments of surgery, radiology and pathology, however the cost may well deter individual purchase. John Harris Department of Surgery University of Sydney, NSW
The Genetics of Cancer: Genes associated with cancer invasion, metastasis and cell proliferation. G.V. SHERBET and M.S. LAKSHMI. Academic Press, San Diego, 1997. ISBN 0-12-639875-5, pp. xviii + 338. AU$55.00. As its subtitle suggests, this book reviews the literature on the genes associated with tumor invasion, metastasis and proliferation. The emphasis is on the former two aspects of cancer biology, with a single chapter del(oted to the genes associated with cell cycle regulation and a shorter one on apoptosis. At least part of the explanation for this emphasis may be found in the Introduction (Chapter 1), in which the importance of dissemination to the pathogenesis of cancer is made clear, and in the very brief Chapter 4, in which a subservience of proliferation to mutation is suggested. The main part of the book begins in Chapter 2 by introducing the concept of clonal evolution in tumor progression and its underlying genetic basis. Various mechanisms for genomic instability are desclibed, including recombination events, microsatellite and telomere expansion and small mutations in the DNA repair factors that often give rise to mutations in other genes. Chapters 5 and 6 deal with the cell cycle and apoptosis. The etnphasis is on p53, reflecting the popularity of this protein in the research of recent years, and much of the discussion of the genes of other proteins, such as cyclins, mdm2 and heat-shock proteins, is in terms of their relationship to p53. The chapters that follow deal with angiogenesis, cell-surface adhesion proteins and proteinases, with a review and critical discussion of the state of knowledge of each area. Finally, four chapters on the roles of genes that have been designated as being dominantly or negatively associated with tumorigenesis, generally, and metastasis, specifically, complete the book. Overall this book provides an excellent and often critical overview of the current state of knowledge of the genes associated with invasion and metastasis and those processes associated with it. It is a very good source of references for seminal papers and reviews, which are quite comprehensive up to the time of writing (1996). Inevitably a book dealing with a field such as this, in which very rapid progress is being made, will require substantial and frequent updates in future editions. However, as it stands and for some time, it will make a very useful and readable introduction to the genetics of tumor invasion and metastasis and to the concepts that underly it. 1. Guy Lyons The Kanematsu Laboratories Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. NSW
Neuropathology: A reference text of eNS pathology. DAVID ELLISON, SETH LOVE, LEtLA CHIMELLI, BRIAN HARDING, JIM LOWE, GARETH W. ROBERTS and HARRY V. VINTERS. Mosby, London, 1998. ISBN 0-72342550-7, pp. x + 671. AU$525.00. This book is essentially a useful co10r atlas of neuropathology. The text is succinct and complementary to a predominant content of macroscopic and microscopic color illustrations, tables and diagrams. The early chapters concentrate on the basic pathologic reactions in the central nervous system. This provides an overview of conventional and immunohistochemical staining techniques for demonstrating neurones and their pro-
0031-3025/98/030330-02 © 1998 Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia
Pathology (1998), 30, August
BOOK REVIEWS
Surgical Pathology of the Ovaries. 2nd Edition. PETER RUSSELL AND ANNABELLE FAR."1SWORTH. Churchill Livingstone, New York. 1997. ISBN 0-443-05384-7, pp. x + 715. AU$330.00.
Photographic Atlas of Practical Anatomy: Part 1. Abdomen and lower limbs. Volumes 1 & 2. WALTER THIEL. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 1997. ISBN 3-540-61195-9, pp. xii + 416 + vi + 427. AU$385 .00.
This second edition of the Surgical Pathology of the Ovaries provides extensive and well structured information and knowledge of the ovary. The spectrum ranges from common physiological to rare and controversial aspects of ovarian pathology. This new edition expands many areas including proliferating epithelial tumors and those difficult extra ovarian "implants". There is a new chapter on intra-operative cytological diagnosis of ovarian tumors. The chapters on clinical aspects and management have been furtber developed. The text is divided into ten sections comprising 58 chapters. The non-tumor related sections include: fundamental embryology and histology; dysgenesis, dystopia and dysfunction; and inflammatory lesions. There are two chapters on Mullerianosis, surface proliferative lesions and endometriosis. The sections on tumors include epithelial, sex cord-stromal and germ cell tumors, in addition to miscellaneous and metastatic tumors. The appendices comprise up-to-date classifications and stagings as well as comprehensive references on paraneoplastic and inherited syndromes. Unfortunately the slightly thinner low gloss paper, while enhancing the macroscopic photographs, reduces the resolution of some of the micrographs. Is this low gloss paper yet another environmental initiative? I recommend this book to general histopathologists as well as those with a particular interest in ovarian pathology who seek clear, up-to-date descriptions of ovarian pathology. Debra N. Jensen Douglass Hanly Moir Pathology, NSW
The anatomy of the abdomen and lower limb is beautifully illusu'ated in this set of two complimentary books that are part of a comprehensi ve photographic atlas of human topographical anatomy. The two large books (24 X 31 cm) are enclosed in a hard-back holder. Detailed color photographs are presented in one volume and are uncluttered by labelling. In the companion volume the photographs are reproduced in black and white and labelled by vertical and horizontal black arrow head symbols that line up with numbers, keyed in turn to a list of anatomical terms on the adjacent page. Although this sounds rather cumbersome, in practice it works quite well. With the books opened side-by-side, detailed study of the col or photograph is facilitated by identifying structures by reference to the companion volume. The atlas is based on a new preservation technique that causes very little change in the natural appearance of gross anatomic structures and this is shown to best advantage in the photographs of the intestines. All the photographs and most of the detailed cadaveric dissections were done by the author in Oraz, Austria. Although there is no description of technical aspects of the preservation technique and photographic method used, the original references are cited. A stated aim was that the photographic display could be applied directly to surgical procedures, illustrating anatomic detail that is difficult to convey in a standard anatomic textbook. This aim has been latgely realised, although there has been no attempt made at comprehensive illustration of all abdominal and lower extremity operations. The book should have wider appeal as trainee pathologists in particular will find the abdominal dissections very helpful preparation for autopsy work. Surgeons will certainly delight in the dissections of the abdominal wall where the author's concepts of the way vessels and nerves pierce the superficial fascia are depicted. Study of an atlas such as will this be best rewarded if the reader has some prior knowledge of descriptive anatomy. lllustrations of cross-sectional anatomy have been deliberately omitted as the author believes that this knowledge can be gained from the understanding of three-dimensional gross anatomy. This may well be true from a surgical perspective but would be a limitation of the book for radiologists or others who require a detailed knowledge of cross-sectional anatomy. The bibliography cites many of the classic anatomic texts, but only ten of the 46 references are in English language publications. There is a brief but interesting list of the individuals whose names are now anatomic synonyms, such as Colles, Hesselbach and Scarpa. Overall the two volume set serves its intended purpose well and can be recommended to all those who would appreciate a beautiful display of human anatomy. The Photographic Atlas of Practical Anatomy should be an essential addition to the library of any medical institution with responsibility for teaching human anatomy, as well as university and hospital departments of surgery, radiology and pathology, however the cost may well deter individual purchase. John Harris Department of Surgery University of Sydney, NSW
The Genetics of Cancer: Genes associated with cancer invasion, metastasis and cell proliferation. G.V. SHERBET and M.S. LAKSHMI. Academic Press, San Diego, 1997. ISBN 0-12-639875-5, pp. xviii + 338. AU$55.00. As its subtitle suggests, this book reviews the literature on the genes associated with tumor invasion, metastasis and proliferation. The emphasis is on the former two aspects of cancer biology, with a single chapter del(oted to the genes associated with cell cycle regulation and a shorter one on apoptosis. At least part of the explanation for this emphasis may be found in the Introduction (Chapter 1), in which the importance of dissemination to the pathogenesis of cancer is made clear, and in the very brief Chapter 4, in which a subservience of proliferation to mutation is suggested. The main part of the book begins in Chapter 2 by introducing the concept of clonal evolution in tumor progression and its underlying genetic basis. Various mechanisms for genomic instability are desclibed, including recombination events, microsatellite and telomere expansion and small mutations in the DNA repair factors that often give rise to mutations in other genes. Chapters 5 and 6 deal with the cell cycle and apoptosis. The etnphasis is on p53, reflecting the popularity of this protein in the research of recent years, and much of the discussion of the genes of other proteins, such as cyclins, mdm2 and heat-shock proteins, is in terms of their relationship to p53. The chapters that follow deal with angiogenesis, cell-surface adhesion proteins and proteinases, with a review and critical discussion of the state of knowledge of each area. Finally, four chapters on the roles of genes that have been designated as being dominantly or negatively associated with tumorigenesis, generally, and metastasis, specifically, complete the book. Overall this book provides an excellent and often critical overview of the current state of knowledge of the genes associated with invasion and metastasis and those processes associated with it. It is a very good source of references for seminal papers and reviews, which are quite comprehensive up to the time of writing (1996). Inevitably a book dealing with a field such as this, in which very rapid progress is being made, will require substantial and frequent updates in future editions. However, as it stands and for some time, it will make a very useful and readable introduction to the genetics of tumor invasion and metastasis and to the concepts that underly it. 1. Guy Lyons The Kanematsu Laboratories Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. NSW
Neuropathology: A reference text of eNS pathology. DAVID ELLISON, SETH LOVE, LEtLA CHIMELLI, BRIAN HARDING, JIM LOWE, GARETH W. ROBERTS and HARRY V. VINTERS. Mosby, London, 1998. ISBN 0-72342550-7, pp. x + 671. AU$525.00. This book is essentially a useful co10r atlas of neuropathology. The text is succinct and complementary to a predominant content of macroscopic and microscopic color illustrations, tables and diagrams. The early chapters concentrate on the basic pathologic reactions in the central nervous system. This provides an overview of conventional and immunohistochemical staining techniques for demonstrating neurones and their pro-
0031-3025/98/030330-02 © 1998 Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia