Biomed. & Pharmacother., 43 (1989) 185-186 0 Elsevier, Paris

785

Liver cell carcinoma. Falk Symposium 51. P. Bannasch, D. Keppler, G. Weber, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, 1988.

Liver cell carcinoma is one of the most frequent malignant neoplasms leading to death in man. Our knowledge of the aetiology, patho-genesis, early dia- gnosis, therapy and primary prevention of this type of cancer has rapidly expanded during the past two decades. The most recent advances in these areas were presented at the International Symposium on Liver Cell Cancer by distinguished scientists from both basic and clinical research. This volume contains contributions from the invited participants and represents a compre- hensive up-to-date review on the important aspects of liver cell carcinoma, including the molecular biology of the hepatitis B virus and changes in gene expression in hepatic preneoplasia and neoplasia induced by chemi- cals. The following topics are discussed in detail : epidemiology and morpholoy; Hepadna viruses and viral carcinogenesis; chemical hepatocarcinogenesis; molecular and cellular changes in hepatocarcinogen- esis; altered gene expression in liver cell tumours; diagnosis and therapy; primary prevention.

The interdisciplinary approach of this book pro- vides an excellent basis for building bridges between basic and clinical research and stimulating future research relevant for patients suffering from liver cell cancer. The book may serve as a guide for clinicians and basic scientists who accept the challenge to combat this disease.

Les marqueurs plasmstiques et tissulaires des tumeurs solides. M. Bolla, P.M. Martin. Masson, Paris, 1989.

After the treatment of a solid tumour, the effect of therapy is assessed by clinical criteria, imaging techni- ques and sometimes the measurement of tumour markers.

The advent of .monoclonal antibody technology has facilitated the discovery of many tumour-associated antigens that are being studied clinically to try to improve diagnosis, estimates of prognosis alid surveil- lance. In parallel to serum markers there are tissue and cellular markers comprising for example, markers of the tumour’s aggressive and invasive potential, differ- entiation markers such as steroid receptors and in- dicators of proliferation such as growth factors and chemoresistance. There are also genomic markers iden- tifying chromosome modifications and cellular onco- gene viruses.

The authors have made a practical inventory of marker tests and their use in human turnours; however,

it is not comprehensive, as some of these tests are now in routine use, whilst others arc still being evaluated.

In order for the markers to be used in a rational and effective manner they need to be defined by their sensitivity, specificity and quality control. It is advan- tageous that the results should be analysed by multi- factorial methods to identify their value as prognostic indicators. This new information can help to form prognostic sub-groups which may lead to a better .approach to therapy.

This book is written for surgeons, oncologists, radiotherapists, pathologists and other investigators confronted with the diagnosis and evaluation of solid tumours in man.

Urologic oncology. H. Lepor, T.L. Ratliff. Kluwer Aca- demic Publishers, Boston, 1989.

The ultimate goal of laboratory and clinical research in the field oi uro-oncology is the cure of genitourinary malignancies. The primary object of Urologic OncoZogy is to critically review recent advances in clinical and laboratory research that may impact on the cure of genitourinary malignancies. The chapters in this book are written by recognized authorities in uro-oncology.

The cure of genitourinary cancer is directly related to the stage of the neoplasm at the t;ae of the presentation. Therefore, “early detection” of genitouri- nary malignancies will favorably impact on the survival rates of affected individuals. The role of transrectal prostatic ultrasound for the early detection of prostate cancer is very controversial. The efficiency of transrec- tal prostatic ultrasound as a useful study for screening or early detection of adenocarcinoma of the prostate is critically reviewed.

Surgery alone will cure a select group of individuals with adenocarcinoma of the prostate, non&eminoma- tous germ cell tumors (NSGTC), squamous cell carci- noma of the penis and Wilms tumor. The role of surgery for the treatment of these conditions is critic- ally examined.

The relative efficacy of therapeutic alternatives for the treatment .,f genitourinary neoplasms is dependent upon the achievement of cure, prolongation of survival, impact on the quality of life and the morbidity of treatment. During the past decade, surgical procedures for genitourinary malignancies have been modified in order to diminish the morbidity of treatment without compromising the effectiveness of the cancer operation. These modifications have altered the role of surgical intervention for the treatment of such malignancies. The impact of these therapeutic modifications is dis- cussed.

786 L&i

ma.53 of the cytaskeletoa : biological ical aspects. Proceedings of the Eur-

opean Symposium on the Structure and Functions of the ~oske~eton, ~iolo~c~ and ~bysi~pathological Aspects, in Lyon (France}, April 13-16 1988. B.A.F. Bousset. Inserm/John Libbey Eurotext, Montrouge, 1989.

asic research on the cytoskeleton has enabled general concepts on the spatial and functional organization of the cell to be established. These concepts, which dealt with m~tip~e aspects of the biology of the cell, have now been applied to tbe study of normal or pathologi- cal functioning of differentiated cells at the molecular level.

The aim of this book is to syntbesize recent funda- mental findings on cytoskeletal elements and their applications to human pathology : detection and classi- fication of tumors, heredity disease of red blood cell skeleton, neurodegenerative diseases... As such, it should prove a very useful reference book for all those involved in experimental and/or clinical research in very diverse fields : cancer research, dermatology, differentiation and development, endoc~nolo~, hae- matology, immunopathology, neurobiology.

Book received

~~~~U~~~C ~~~~5~ in en& with &he acquired imm~nodef~cienw syndrome. G. Leoung, J. Mills, M. Dekker, New York, 1989.