“Precision/personalized or stratified medicine” refers to the tailoring of medical treatment or drug administration to the individual characteristics of each patient treatment. It does not literally mean that a pharmaceutical company makes a drug for an individual patient for consumption and treatment but rather means the ability to stratify (or classify) individuals into sub-populations that differ in their responsiveness to a specific drug. A marker that provides information on the likely response to therapy, i.e., either in terms of tumor shrinkage or survival of the patient is termed “predictive biomarker”. Despite their promise in precision medicine and the explosion of knowledge in this area, there is not a single source on this subject that puts all this evidence together in a concise or richly illustrated and easy to understand manner. This book provides a collection of ingeniously organized, well-illustrated and up-to-date authoritative chapters divided into five sections that are clear and easy to understand. Section one provides an overview of biomarkers, introduces the basic terminologies, definitions, technologies, tools and concepts associated with this subject in the form of illustrations/graphics, photographs and concise texts. Several recent biomarker endeavors that have been initiated and funded by the National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, FDA and other International organizations are presented. Section two involves the signaling pathways controlling cell growth and differentiation altered in cancer. This section analyzes how predictive biomarkers are altered (expressed or amplified) across cancer types. Section three explores how predictive biomarkers play a role in patient stratification and tailored treatment in relationship to specific cancers. In addition, it includes discussion on the various precision medicine initiatives that are going on across the globe (e.g. TARGET, NCI-MATCH, BATTLE, SHIVA, etc.). Section four discusses: (a) how pharmaceutical companies validate predictive biomarker assays and accompanying companion diagnostics either internally or externally with partner companies such as central laboratories or clinical research organizations, and (b) how predictive biomarker tests fall under the oversight of US FDA, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and state laws. Section five wraps up novel agents and targets that are being used as targets for cancer therapeutics. The biomarkers associated with these protocols will also be presented. Throughout the book, sidebars, special interest boxes and illustrations are used to explain terms that are either newly introduced, uncommon, or specialized. Predictive Biomarkers in Oncology will serve as a definitive guide for practicing pathologists, oncologists, basic researchers, and personnel in the pharmaceutical or diagnostic industry interested in learning how “predictive biomarkers” are used in precision cancer therapy.

As with other books in the Molecular Pathology Library Series, Molecular Pathology of Lung Cancer bridges the gap between the molecular specialist and the clinical practitioner, including the surgical pathologist who now has a key role in decisions regarding molecular targeted therapy for lung cancer. Molecular Pathology of Lung Cancer provides the latest information and current insights into the molecular basis for lung cancer, including precursor and preinvasive lesions, molecular diagnosis, molecular targeted therapy, molecular prognosis, molecular radiology and related fields for lung cancer generally and for the specific cell types. As many fundamental concepts about lung cancer have undergone revision in only the past few years, this book will likely be the first to comprehensively cover the new molecular pathology of lung cancer. It provides a foundation in this field for pathologists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, thoracic surgeons, thoracic radiologists and their trainees, physician assistants, and nursing staff.

Identifying tumor-specific molecular aberrations via molecular profiling is vital for the use of targeted therapies. Understanding a patient’s unique tumor genetics provides predictive and prognostic information that enables a personalized care plan to be put in place, improving outcomes and minimizing ineffective treatments. 'Fast Facts: Molecular Profiling in Solid Tumors' provides a firm knowledge foundation of somatic molecular profiling methodologies, key information to help with the use of molecular profiling in daily practice and advice on communicating with patients about molecular testing and results. Table of Contents: • Molecular profiling: the basics • Rationale for testing • Sample collection • Test selection and process • Interpreting the report • Talking to patients • Challenges and opportunities

Diagnose tumors with confidence with Diagnostic Histopathology of Tumors, 4th Edition. Dr. Christopher Fletcher's renowned reference provides the advanced, expert guidance you need to evaluate and interpret even the most challenging histopathology specimens more quickly and accurately. Consult this title on your favorite e-reader with intuitive search tools and adjustable font sizes. Elsevier eBooks provide instant portable access to your entire library, no matter what device you're using or where you're located. Diagnose efficiently and effectively using diagnostic flow charts, correlations of gross appearances to microscopic findings, and differential diagnosis tables for better recognition and evaluation of similar-looking entities. Employ immunohistochemistry, molecular and genetic diagnostic tests, and other modern techniques as well as the best morphologic diagnostic methods to effectively identify each tumor or tumor-like entity. Utilize new, clinically important molecular genetic data and updated classification schemes to help guide treatment and targeted therapy. Apply the latest techniques and diagnostic criteria with completely rewritten chapters on Small and Large Intestines, Heart, Larynx and Trachea, Ear, and Peritoneum. Find critical information quickly thanks to more tables and bulleted lists throughout.

A FRESH EXAMINATION OF PRECISION MEDICINE'S INCREASINGLY PROMINENT ROLE IN THE FIELD OF ONCOLOGY Precision medicine takes into account each patient's specific characteristics and requirements to arrive at treatment plans that are optimized towards the best possible outcome. As the field of oncology continues to advance, this tailored approach is becoming more and more prevalent, channelling data on genomics, proteomics, metabolomics and other areas into new and innovative methods of practice. Precision Medicine in Oncology draws together the essential research driving the field forward, providing oncology clinicians and trainees alike with an illuminating overview of the technology and thinking behind the breakthroughs currently being made. Topics covered include: Biologically-guided radiation therapy Informatics for precision medicine Molecular imaging Biomarkers for treatment assessment Big data Nanoplatforms Casting a spotlight on this emerging knowledge base and its impact upon the management of tumors, Precision Medicine in Oncology opens up new possibilities and ways of working – not only for oncologists, but also for molecular biologists, radiologists, medical geneticists, and others.

This book explores various applications of deep learning to the diagnosis of cancer,while also outlining the future face of deep learning-assisted cancer diagnostics. As is commonly known, artificial intelligence has paved the way for countless new solutions in the field of medicine. In this context, deep learning is a recent and remarkable sub-field, which can effectively cope with huge amounts of data and deliver more accurate results. As a vital research area, medical diagnosis is among those in which deep learning-oriented solutions are often employed. Accordingly, the objective of this book is to highlight recent advanced applications of deep learning for diagnosing different types of cancer. The target audience includes scientists, experts, MSc and PhD students, postdocs, and anyone interested in the subjects discussed. The book can be used as a reference work to support courses on artificial intelligence, medical and biomedicaleducation.