Genetic Control of Natural Resistance to Infection and Malignancy ...

Natural resistance is now coming to be recognized as a potentially important phenomenon in host defense against infection and ma lignancy. Genetically controlled resistance mechanisms are usUally effective early in infection and before conventional immune responses are generated. Comparisons of experimental systems where natural resistance plays a prominent role demon strate the complexities of the host defense mechanisms involved, as evidenced in the present volume. Nevertheless, some com mon components of genetic resistance are discernible and largely comprise natural killer cells, macrophages, and interferon These and additional factors would seem to constitute a first line of de fense in host resistance against both viruses and tumors. It is evi dent that considerable variation in the relative importance of di stinct mechanisms may be found among various resistance sy stems and that, most likely, additional effector functions will be discovered. Resistance to tumors and most viruses is under polygenic control, has a complex mode of inheritance, and depends on appro priately complex effector mechanisms. Instances, however, whe re a single gene locus determines resistance or susceptibility to a virus, as in the case of resistance to flaviviruses or influenza viru ses, would seem to offer good prospects for elucidating the basic factors involved. Resistance to influenza virus would indeed seem to represent a comparatively simple situation: resistance is expressed at the host cell level, and interferon is its main media tor. The present volume provides insight into current concepts of such resistance mechanisms.

The ability to genetically engineer oncolytic viruses in order to minimize side effects and improve the selective targeting of tumor cells has opened up novel opportunities for treating cancer. Understanding the mechanisms involved and the complex interaction between the viruses and the immune system will undoubtedly help guide the development of new strategies. Theranostic biomarkers to monitor these therapies in clinical trials serve an important need in this innovative field and demand further research.

This volume examines in detail the role of chronic inflammatory processes in the development of several types of cancer. Leading experts describe the latest results of molecular and cellular research on infection, cancer-related inflammation and tumorigenesis. Further, the clinical significance of these findings in preventing cancer progression and approaches to treating the diseases are discussed. Individual chapters cover cancer of the lung, colon, breast, brain, head and neck, pancreas, prostate, bladder, kidney, liver, cervix and skin as well as gastric cancer, sarcoma, lymphoma, leukemia and multiple myeloma.

Viruses are the causes of approximately 25% of human cancers. Due to their importance in carcinogenesis, there is a desperate need for a book that discusses these viruses. This book is therefore timely, providing a comprehensive review of the molecular biology of oncogenic viruses and the cancers they cause. Viruses that are discussed in the individual chapters include hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, human papilloma viruses, EpsteinOCoBarr virus, Kaposi's sarcoma virus and human T-cell leukemia virus type 1. This book provides up-to-date information for graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, medical students, physicians and non-experts who are interested in learning more about the oncogenic viruses and how they cause human cancers. Sample Chapter(s). Foreword (38 KB). Chapter 1: Oncogenic Viruses, Cellular Transformation and Human Cancers (211 KB). Contents: Oncogenic Viruses, Cellular Transformation and Human Cancers (Y-Y Zheng & J-H J Ou); Hepatitis B Virus and Hepatocellular Carcinogenesis (T S B Yen); Molecular Mechanism of Hepatitis C Virus Carcinogenesis (K Machida et al.); Human Papillomaviruses and Associated Malignancies (C L Nguyen et al.); Epstein-Barr Virus and Its Oncogenesis (H-P Li et al.); Human Kaposi's Sarcoma-associated Herpesvirus: Molecular Biology and Oncogenesis (P J Dillon & B Damania); Human T-Cell Leukemia Virus 1 and Cellular Transformation (Y-H Chi & K-T Jeang). Readership: Graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in infectious diseases, microbiology/virology, oncology/cancer research, and cell/molecular/structural biology; medical students, physicians and non-experts who are interested in understanding the relationship between oncogenic viruses and the cancers they cause