Cancer remains a major challenge for modern society. Not only does cancer rank among the first three causes of mortality in most population groups but also the therapeutic options available for most tumor types are limited. The existing ones have limited efficacy, lack specificity and their administration carry major side effects. Hence the urgent need for novel cancer therapies. One of the most promising avenues in research is the use of specific immunotherapy. The notion that the immune system may have important anti-tumor effects has been around for more than a century now. Every major progress in microbiology and immunology has been immediately followed by attempts to apply the new knowledge to the treatment of cancer. Progress has reached a point where it is well established that most cancer patients mount specific T cell responses against their tumors. The molecular identity of the antigens recognized by anti-tumor T cells has been elucidated and several hundreds of tumor-derived antigenic peptides have been discovered. Upon recognition of such peptides presented by self MHC molecules, both CD8 and CD4 T cells are activated, expand to high numbers and differentiate into effective anti-tumor agents. CD8 T cells directly destroy tumor cells and can cause even large tumors to completely regress in experimental mouse models. These observations have spurred intense research activity aimed at designing and testing cancer vaccines. Over 100 years ago Coley successfully used intratumoral injection of killed bacteria to treat sarcomas. The important anti-tumor effects observed in a fraction of these patients fueled major research efforts. These led to major discoveries in the 80s and the 90s. It turns out that bacterial lipopolysaccharides stimulate the production of massive amounts of a cytokine still known today as tumor necrosis factor (TNF-a). They do so by engagement of a rather complex set of interactions culminating in the ligation of a Toll-like receptor, TLR -4. Ensuing signaling through this receptor initiates potent innate immune responses. Unfortunately the clinical use of both TNF-a and LPS can not be generalized due to their very narrow therapeutic margin. Importantly, synthetic Lipid A analogs have been identified that retain useful bioactivity and yet possess only mild toxicity. The relatively large body of information accumulated thus far on the molecular and cellular interactions set in motion by administration of LPS as well as by the synthetic lipid A analogs allow to place this family of bacterially-derived molecules at the crossroads between innate and adaptive immunity. By virtue of this key position, the therapeutic applications being pursued aim at using these compounds either as direct anti-tumor agents or as vaccine adjuvants. The clinical experience acquired so far on these two avenues is asymmetric. Few clinical trials using Lipid A analogs as single anti-cancer agents involving less than 100 patients with advanced cancer have been reported. In contrast, lipid A has been tested in over 300,000 individuals in various vaccines trials, including therapeutic cancer vaccines. Clearly most of the work needed to develop lipid A as effective anti-cancer agents and/or as vaccine adjuvant lies ahead in the near future. This book is a timely contribution and provides a much needed up-to-date overview of the chemical, biological and physiological aspects of lipid A. It should be a beacon to all those involved in this field of research.

Genetic alterations in cancer, in addition to being the fundamental drivers of tumorigenesis, can give rise to a variety of metabolic adaptations that allow cancer cells to survive and proliferate in diverse tumor microenvironments. This metabolic flexibility is different from normal cellular metabolic processes and leads to heterogeneity in cancer metabolism within the same cancer type or even within the same tumor. In this book, we delve into the complexity and diversity of cancer metabolism, and highlight how understanding the heterogeneity of cancer metabolism is fundamental to the development of effective metabolism-based therapeutic strategies. Deciphering how cancer cells utilize various nutrient resources will enable clinicians and researchers to pair specific chemotherapeutic agents with patients who are most likely to respond with positive outcomes, allowing for more cost-effective and personalized cancer therapeutic strategies.

This edited volume is a collection of reviewed and relevant research chapters concerning developments within the field of lipid metabolism. It includes scholarly contributions from experts in the field that cover such topics as roles of lipids in cancer, analytical tools for lipid assessment in biological assays, plant lipid metabolism, the effect of nanoparticles on lipid peroxidation in plants, and fatty acid compositions in fermented fish products. This book provides a thorough overview of the latest research efforts by international authors on lipid metabolism, and opens new possible research paths for further novel developments.

Lipid Nanocarriers for Drug Targeting presents recent advances in the area of lipid nanocarriers. The book focuses on cationic lipid nanocarriers, solid lipid nanocarriers, liposomes, thermosensitive vesicles, and cubosomes, with applications in phototherapy, cosmetic and others. As the first book related to lipid nanocarriers and their direct implication in pharmaceutical nanotechnology, this important reference resource is ideal for biomaterials scientists and those working in the medical and pharmaceutical industries that want to learn more on how lipids can be used to create more effective drug delivery systems. - Highlights the most commonly used types of lipid nanocarriers and explains how they are applied in pharmacy - Shows how lipid nanocarriers are used in different types of treatment, including oral medicine, skin repair and cancer treatment - Assesses the pros and cons of using different lipid nanocarriers for different therapies

This volume presents information on both the basic and clinical aspects of sphingolipid-metabolizing enzymes in various cancers. The volume also includes discussions of the innovative techniques and approaches for quantitative analysis and imaging that could significantly impact the general understanding of this topic, and the potential benefit of targeting sphingolipid enzymes to develop novel cancer therapeutics. As well, the volume includes a critical examination of the specific pathways and pathobiologies associated with the altered regulation of sphingolipid metabolism as a contributor to the development and/or maintenance of pathological conditions such as cancer.

This book covers nanotechnology based approaches for improving the therapeutic efficacy of natural products. It critically explores lipid nanoarchitectonics, inorganic particles and nanoemulsion based tools for delivering them. With its chapters from eminent experts working in this discipline, it is ideal for researchers and professionals working in the area.

This book summarizes the latest advances in nanomaterials and techniques in the field of tumor-targeted diagnosis and therapy. It provides valuable information for beginners and senior researchers, and stimulates new research directions by offering novel and provocative insights into the properties and technical principles of nanomaterials. The book systemically discusses the challenges in tumor treatment, current tumor-targeted strategies, drug-release strategies, diagnosis and therapeutic patterns, and also explores newly developed multifunctional nanomaterials and related systems.