This volume, with chapters written by experts in the field of cancerous tumors, details the key factors associated with liquid biopsies in solid tumors: blood-based diagnostics; circulating tumor cells; enumeration and molecular analysis (association with breast cancer); epithelialmesenchymal transition; detection and monitoring; circulating-free tumor DNA; CTCs and ctDNA; and the exosome. The field of blood-based diagnostics is rapidly evolving demonstrating the possibility of real-time molecular analysis of cancer cells and their phenotype and genotype. Circulating Tumor Cell (CTCs) have demonstrated prognostic and predictive value in advanced cancer and represents a source of tumor cells for transcriptome and genomic analysis. Most recently, the detection of genomic abnormalities in the peripheral blood by sensitive and selective PCR methods (liquid biopsy) opened to the option of a comprehensive blood-based tumor analysis. Similar information can be obtained by analysis of exosome, a natural packaging and messaging system being explored in advanced malignancies. The final frontier is the evaluation of immune cells determinant of innate and adaptive immunity.

This book provides a wealth of images and extensive information on circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and other cells usually observed in blood from patients with cancer, such as giant macrophages, and circulating tumor microemboli (CTM). The field of “liquid biopsy” began with the analysis of CTCs in the early 2000s. In the beginning, molecular techniques were developed to detect these cells in the blood. However, it has since become clear that CTCs initially require a cytopathological analysis to be detected without false positive and negative results. After detection, molecular analysis can be subsequently performed. Cancer is an important cause of mortality, especially when detected in late stages. Even with all the advances that have been made in its treatment, cancer is still challenging, as many patients do not respond to any therapy. Many health agencies have considered early diagnosis as a feasible tool. In this context, it is of the utmost importance to know the morphology and characteristics of CTCs to determine a correct diagnosis. Currently much of the scientific community is committed to expanding our knowledge of CTCs, and this work makes a valuable contribution, presenting hundreds of cell images from patients with various types of cancer, in many different stages of disease, and after receiving various treatments. The Atlas of Liquid Biopsy: Circulating Tumor Cells and Other Rare Cells in Cancer Patients’ Blood is an essential reference guide for all physicians, biologists, biomedics, and professionals working at clinical and research laboratories, hospitals and research centers.

Liquid Biopsy in Urogenital Cancers and Their Clinical Utility presents updated information on liquid biopsy techniques and their utility for diagnosing urological cancers. As a promising and recent diagnostic method, these techniques can be used for identifying tumors at initial stage, thus greatly improving treatment outcomes and survivorship. Chapters provide an overview of liquid biopsy as a new tool for diagnosis, monitoring and personalized medicine in urogenital cancers and explain its applicability in different cancer types, including bladder, prostate, kidney and testis tumors, female genital tract and pediatric urogenital tumors. This is a valuable resource for cancer researchers, oncologists, graduate students, urologists and biomedical researchers who need to understand more about liquid biopsy and its use for urogenital cancers. - Presents an overview on liquid biopsy techniques and their applications in cancer diagnosis - Explains how to extract circulating tumor DNA, RNA and circulating tumor cells and extracellular vehicles from blood samples to identify the urology cancers, including testis, prostate, bladder and kidney - Includes several images and schematic diagrams that illustrate content and facilitate its comprehension

This book provides a comprehensive overview of the current limitations and unmet needs in Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. It also provides newly emerging concepts, approaches, and technologies to address challenges. Topics covered include changing landscape of HCC etiologies in association with health disparities, framework of clinical management algorithm, new and experimental modalities of HCC diagnosis and prognostication, multidisciplinary treatment options including rapidly evolving molecular targeted therapies and immune therapies, multi-omics molecular characterization, and clinically relevant experimental models. The book is intended to assist collaboration between the diverse disciplines and facilitate forward and reverse translation between basic and clinical research by providing a comprehensive overview of relevant areas, covering epidemiological trend and population-level patient management strategies, new diagnostic and prognostic tools, recent advances in the standard care and novel therapeutic approaches, and new concepts in pathogenesis and experimental approaches and tools, by experts and opinion leaders in their respective fields. By thoroughly and concisely covering whole aspects of HCC care, Hepatocellular Carcinoma serves as a valuable reference for multidisciplinary readers, and promotes the development of personalized precision care strategies that lead to substantial improvement of disease burden and patient prognosis in HCC.

Reliable diagnosis is the cornerstone, starting point, and prerequisite of successful treatment. Therefore, development of innovative diagnostic technologies represents a hot topic in medical research. Liquid biopsy is a novel, minimally invasive laboratory evaluation concept for diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive testing, as well as dynamic monitoring of treatment or disease course. To achieve these goals, a multitude of specific, targeted tests can be performed to detect free nucleic acids, exosomes, microRNAs, tumor-educated platelets, and whole cells of tumor or fetal origin in different biological fluids, including blood, urine, cerebrospinal fluid, and others. Although tissue biopsy has long been considered the gold standard of diagnostics, especially regarding malignant tumors, liquid biopsy has the advantages of a non-invasive approach and thus low risk of complications. It is technically feasible even in serious general status or if tumors or metastases are not easily accessible using conventional tissue biopsy. The testing is fast, exact, and can be repeated to ensure real-time follow-up. In contrast to classic tumor markers, liquid biopsy is distinguished by high specificity at genomic, proteomic, and cellular levels. It is expected to equal and exceed the diagnostic value of tissue biopsy. The field of liquid biopsies is developing rapidly regarding the selection of targets, technological improvements, and quality assessment. This book, written by a global team of recognized scientists, comprises state-of-the-art reviews on the current knowledge and advances in the technologies and software for liquid biopsy. Examples of practical application of liquid biopsy to evaluate thyroid cancer, multiple myeloma, etc. are discussed as well. The book is intended to serve as a reference for scientists and clinicians interested in the development and practical implementation of liquid biopsy.

This book provides a practical and clinically oriented guide to the concepts of pathologic diagnosis of surgical specimens. Concise and highly illustrated chapters cover essential information required within patient management. Telepathology, ancillary techniques, and surgical oncology concepts are also examined. Surgical Pathology: A Practical Guide aims to bridge the knowledge gap between surgeons and pathologists to promote mutual understanding and a better working relationship. This book is relevant to general surgeons, and surgical oncologists, whether in training or in practice. It also serves as an introduction for first-year pathology residents, and medical students interested in surgical pathology.

This text is designed to provide readers with a useful and comprehensive resource and state-of-the-art overview about the new, growing and fast-expanding field of “liquid biopsy” for the management of cancer patients. The liquid biopsy represents an important turning point in oncology since it provides a tool for a serial monitoring of disease. Liquid biopsy is our “hand lens” to follow molecular changes that characterize tumor development and progression. The book provide a unique and valuable resource on the clinical relevance of liquid biopsy as well as on the technical aspects of liquid biopsy analysis. All invited authors are recognized experts in their field. Liquid Biopsy in Cancer Patients: The Hand Lens for Tumor Evolution is targeted to resident and fellows physicians, medical oncologists, molecular biologists and biotechnologists.