If there is one aspect of current cancer research that represents a major ch- lenge in both novice and experienced researchers, it is the rapid advance in our understanding of the disease. Researchers can be required to switch from analysis of gene expression to kinetics of protein activation, from genetic studies to the analysis of protein funtion. Cancers are highly complex disease systems and researchers aiming to understand the functioning of cancer systems require access to a wide range of laboratory techiques from a broad range of research disciplines. Increasingly, however, published methods are incomplete or refer back to a series of previous publications each containing only a small part of the complete pro- col. The aim of Ovarian Cancer: Methods and Protocols is to provide for ovarian cancer researchers in the first instance, a laboratory handbook that will facilitate research into cancer systems by providing a series of expert protocols, with proven efficacy, across a broad range of technical expertise. Thus, there are sections on tumor genetics and cellular signal transduction, as well as sections on apoptosis and RNA analysis. The value of Ovarian Cancer: Methods and Protocols to the ovarian cancer researcher will, I trust, be considerably enhanced by (1) the provision of a series of overviews relating to the biology, diagnosis, and treatment of this important neoplasm, and (2) the provision of a series of technical overviews introducing each part that provides an expert review of the applications and pitfalls of the various techniques included.

Decades of research on the tumor suppressor p53 have revealed that it plays a significant role as a "guardian of the genome," protecting cells against genotoxic stress. In recent years, p53 research has begun to move into the clinic in attempts to understand how p53 is frequently inactivated in-and sometimes even promotes-human cancer. Written and edited by experts in the field, this collection from Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Medicine covers the rapid progress that has recently been made in basic and clinical research on p53. The contributors review new observations about its basic biology, providing updates on the functions of its isoforms and domains, the myriad stresses and signals that trigger its activation or repression, and its downstream effects on genome stability and the cell cycle that enforce tumor suppression in different cell and tissue types. They also discuss how p53 dysfunction contributes to cancer, exploring the various inherited and somatic mutations in the human TP53 gene, the impact of mutant p53 proteins on tumorigenesis, and the prognostic value and clinical outcomes of these mutations. Drugs that are being developed to respond to tumors harboring aberrant p53 are also described. This book is therefore essential reading for all cancer biologists, cell and molecular biologists, and pharmacologists concerned with the treatment of this disease.

One of the most exciting areas of cancer research now is the development of agents which can target signal transduction pathways that are activated inappropriately in malignant cells. The understanding of the molecular abnormalities which distinguish malignant cells from their normal counterparts has grown tremendously. This volume summarizes the current research on the role that signal transduction pathways play in the pathogenesis of cancer and how this knowledge may be used to develop the next generation of more effective and less toxic anticancer agents. Series Editor comments: "The biologic behavior of both normal and cancer cells is determined by critical signal transduction pathways. This text provides a comprehensive review of the field. Leading investigators discuss key molecules that may prove to be important diagnostic and/or therapeutic targets."

This book aims to assemble the only available rigorous, yet broadly accessible introduction to this new and exciting field. Oncogenomics: Molecular Approaches to Cancer is approachable by basic scientists, practitioners, and other health professionals required to familiarize themselves with the tremendous impact of genomics and proteomics on cancer research. Clearly written chapters offer reviews of state of the art topics such as molecular classification, early detection, SNPs in cancer, data mining, tissue microarrays, protein and antibody arrays, and drug targets.

All of us have lurking in our DNA a most remarkable gene, which has a crucial job - it protects us from cancer. Known simply as p53, this gene constantly scans our cells to ensure that they grow and divide without mishap, as part of the routine maintenance of our bodies. If a cell makes a mistake in copying its DNA during the process of division, p53 stops it in its tracks, summoning a repair team before allowing the cell to carry on dividing. If the mistake is irreparable and the rogue cell threatens to grow out of control, p53 commands the cell to commit suicide. Cancer cannot develop unless p53 itself is damaged or prevented from functioning normally. Perhaps unsurprisingly, p53 is the most studied single gene in history. This book tells the story of medical science's mission to unravel the mysteries of this crucial gene, and to get to the heart of what happens in our cells when they turn cancerous. Through the personal accounts of key researchers, p53: The Gene that Cracked the Cancer Code reveals the fascination of the quest for scientific understanding, as well as the huge excitement of the chase for new cures - the hype, the enthusiasm, the lost opportunities, the blind alleys, and the thrilling breakthroughs. And as the long-anticipated revolution in cancer treatment tailored to each individual patient's symptoms begins to take off at last, p53 remains at the cutting edge. This timely tale of scientific discovery highlights the tremendous recent advances made in our understanding of cancer, a disease that affects more than one in three of us at some point in our lives.

This work serves as an introduction to the applications of molecular biology in the field of oncology. It provides a basic understanding of the genetic events involved in fully developed human cancer, including research into inherited and acquired gene defects initiating new neoplasms and the subsequent genetic alterations involved in tumor progression. Some of the specific topics explored include gene control, molecular therapy and antibodies, drug resistance, growth factors and receptors, and tumor biology. While intended primarily as an advanced text for oncologists, postgraduate molecular geneticists and molecular biologists, the book will certainly be of interest to other researchers who frequently encounter cancer in their practice.