Oncodevelopmental markers : biologic, diagnostic, and monitoring aspects / edited by William H. Fishman.

Date:
1983
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)

Credit: Oncodevelopmental markers : biologic, diagnostic, and monitoring aspects / edited by William H. Fishman. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    21/464 (page XVII)
    Preface The recognition that in cancer one is deaUng primarily with a change in gene expression rather than a substantial change in the gene per se is becoming widespread with the recent interest in cellular oncogenes. The latter, in our opinion, should now be referred to as oncodevelopmental genes. The field of oncodevelopmental genes was first defined in 1976 (On¬ codevelopmental Gene Expression, W. H. Fishman and S. Sell, Academic Press, Inc.). That treatise dealt with areas of developmental biology, carcinogenesis, and the diagnostic implications of oncodevelopmental gene products. The literature on tumor-associated markers is voluminous and confusing pri¬ marily because each marker is treated as a world unto itself without regard to its relationship to other tumor markers. Previous books have usually been compen- diums of papers presented at meetings. Consequently, it was felt that there was a need for a treatise that would deal with the subject conceptually rather than empirically, a treatise that would illustrate for the reader examples of biologic, diagnostic, and monitoring aspects of oncodevelopmental markers, that would define clearly the limitations as well as the promise of such markers, and would be sufficiently provocative to be a springboard for meaningful inquiry. In attempting to meet these needs, the editor has gathered together outstanding scientists who have written authoritative chapters in their fields. The first part of the book forms a conceptual exposition and examination of a number of theoreti¬ cal and methodological approaches; through these the reader should achieve an understanding of the uses and limitations of various cell lines, xenotransplanted tumors, and polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies. The volume begins with a conceptual treatment of Oncodevelopmental Markers (W. H. Fishman), an examination of Cell-Matrix Interactions as Determinants of Differentiation and Tumor Invasion (E. Ruoslahti), and an exploration of Human Tumor Nucleolar Antigens (H. Busch et al.). xvii