Thomas Dittmar

Kurt S. Zänker

This book summarizes the latest findings about the role of cancer stem cells (CSCs) in cancer biology and how this knowledge could be used for novel anticancer therapies. It provides an overview of CSCs in selected malignancies with particular emphasis on hematopoietic neoplasias. It then reviews the role of CSCs in metastasis formation and initiation of cancer relapses. It also examines the dark side of cancer therapy such as conventional cancer therapies that may lead to the origin of recurrence CSCs. Finally, it supplies a brief overview of current concepts that may allow for a selective eradication of CSCs.

Role of Cancer Stem Cells in Cancer Biology and Therapy

Axel Schmidt

Kurt S. Zaenker

The last two decades have shown that the local microenvironment plays a pivotal role in cancer progression. Cancer is not the result of mutation events in single cells, but of a complex interplay of tumor cells, inflammatory cells, stem cells, growth factors, cytokines, chemokines and DNA-damaging agents. This book provides an up-to-date overview of how infections and chronic inflammatory conditions can give rise to the onset of a malignant phenotype, a theory that was originally postulated by Rudolf Virchow as early as 1863. Internationally recognized experts discuss novel aspects such as the role of stem cells and the occurrence of aneuploidy in carcinogenesis. Several examples of pathogens and their correlation with specific cancer types are described, e.g. Helicobacter pylori and gastric neoplasia, and schistosomiasis and bladder cancer. The mechanisms of carcinogenesis are examined in detail as are the types of cells that can transform to a malignant phenotype, with special emphasis on stem cells which have recently been shown to give rise to cancer. Further chapters discuss the role of chemokines in directing metastasis and describe options for visualizing metastasis formation in 3-dimensional model systems and in the living body. Our increasing knowledge of the inflammatory microenvironment's role in the carcinogenic process will be the basis for investigating new anti-inflammatory strategies to counter tumor formation and growth. Therefore, this book is essential reading for scientists and clinicians working in cancer research and prevention.

Impacts on Oncogenesis

Infection and Inflammation

Although cell fusion is an omnipresent process in life, to date considerably less is still known about the mechanisms and the molecules being involved in this biological phenomenon in higher organisms. In Cell Fusion in Health and Disease Vol 1 & Vol 2 leading experts will present up-to-date overviews about cell fusion in physiological and patho-physiological processes, which further covers the current knowledge about cell fusion-mediating molecules. Volume 1 deals with Cell Fusion in Health and will cover aspects of cell fusion in fertilization, placentation, in C. elegans, in skeletal muscle development and tissue repair, and the use of cell fusion for cellular reprogramming and cancer vaccine development. Volume 2 focuses on Cell Fusion in Disease with a particular emphasis on the role of cell fusion in cancer development and progression. Thus, Cell Fusion in Health and Disease Vol 1 & Vol 2 represents a state-of-the-art work for researchers, physicians or professionals being interested in the biological phenomenon of cell fusion and beyond.

I: Cell Fusion in Health

Cell Fusion in Health and Disease

Stem Cell Biology in Health and Disease presents an up-to-date overview about the dual role of stem cells in health and disease. The Editors have drawn together an international team of experts providing chapters which, in this fully-illustrated volume, discuss: - the controversial debate on the great expectations concerning stem cell based regeneration therapies raised by the pluripotency of various stem cells. - the advantages and concerns about embryonic stem cells (ES cells), induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells) and adult stem cells, such as bone marrow-derived stem cells (BMDCs). - the type of stem cells, which has become of interest in the past decade, namely so-called cancer stem cells (CSCs). CSCs are now in the focus of cancer research since the eradication of tumour initiating cells would raise the changes of definitely cure cancer. Professor Dittmar and Professor Zänker have edited a must-read book for researchers and professionals working in the field of regenerative medicine and/or cancer.

Thomas Dittmar

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