Expert laboratory and clinical researchers from around the world review how to design and evaluate studies of tumor markers and examine their use in breast cancer patients. The authors cover both the major advances in sophisticated molecular methods and the state-of-the-art in conventional prognostic and predictive indicators. Among the topics discussed are the relevance of rigorous study design and guidelines for the validation studies of new biomarkers, gene expression profiling by tissue microarrays, adjuvant systemic therapy, and the use of estrogen, progesterone, and epidermal growth factor receptors as both prognostic and predictive indicators. Highlights include the evaluation of HER2 and EGFR family members, of p53, and of UPA/PAI-1; the detection of rare cells in blood and marrow; and the detection and analysis of soluble, circulating markers.

Biomarkers are of critical medical importance for oncologists, allowing them to predict and detect disease and to determine the best course of action for cancer patient care. Prognostic markers are used to evaluate a patient’s outcome and cancer recurrence probability after initial interventions such as surgery or drug treatments and, hence, to select follow-up and further treatment strategies. On the other hand, predictive markers are increasingly being used to evaluate the probability of benefit from clinical intervention(s), driving personalized medicine. Evolving technologies and the increasing availability of “multiomics” data are leading to the selection of numerous potential biomarkers, based on DNA, RNA, miRNA, protein, and metabolic alterations within cancer cells or tumor microenvironment, that may be combined with clinical and pathological data to greatly improve the prediction of both cancer progression and therapeutic treatment responses. However, in recent years, few biomarkers have progressed from discovery to become validated tools to be used in clinical practice. This Special Issue comprises eight review articles and five original studies on novel potential prognostic and predictive markers for different cancer types.

This book discusses the current state of cancer pathway as it is relevant to sub-Saharan Africa and highlights differences in epidemiology and the underlying problems with management. It outlines the current practice and opinions in all forms of cancer, also highlighting future prospects. Starting by providing background information on the epidemiology and genomic variations, the book then goes on to look at Infection-related cancers and continues to prostate GI, breast cancer and ovarian and cervical cancer. The last part of the book focuses on delivery of affordable and accessible care. Palliative services and primary and transnational research, as well as clinical trials are also discussed. Written by a team of authors based in the UK, Nigeria, South Africa and the US. this book offers an overview of the current state and challenges of cancer care in sub-Saharan Africa, and it would be valuable to policy makers, researchers, funding organisations, and can be an adjunct to standard text books for students, residents and established doctors.

An overview of the current systems biology-based knowledge and the experimental approaches for deciphering the biological basis of cancer.

This comparative study of European and Chinese contract law opens a clear and practical way to identify and understand the differences between the two legal regimes. The author offers a detailed doctrinal comparison of the two systems of contract, focusing on the following fundamental elements: * the importance of socio-economic valuation in Chinese contract law; * the role of judicial interpretation; * pre-contractual liability - penalties for bad faith, disclosure versus concealment; * validity - mistake, fraud, threats, unfair bargaining power; * adaptation and termination - effect of registration and approval rules; * mandatory rules - good faith and fair dealing, the public interest; and * direct application of constitutional law to contracts. The book's special power lies in its extraordinarily thorough comparison of doctrines underlying specific provisions of such instruments as the Contract Law of the People's Republic of China (CLC), the General Principles of the Civil Law of the People's Republic of China (GPCL), the Principles of European Contract Law (PECL), and the Draft Common Frame of Reference (DCFR), as well as analysis of judicial cases.