With the aim of providing an international forum for the communication of both the basic and clinical aspects of molecular and cellular biology of cancer, a NATO ASl was held in Porto Carras, Halkidiki, Greece, September 1-12, 1995. The principles as well as recent developments in tumor biology were discussed in depth, with emphasis on the regulation of the cell cycle, differentiation, programmed cell death (apoptosis) and genetics of cancer. This book constitutes the proceedings of that meeting. Specifically, the following areas were addressed: (a) enzymes and proteins (cyclins) that control the cell cycle, as well as the role of m as gene in meiosis and transformation; (b) the structural basis for specificity in protein-tyrosine kinase reactions; (c) the differentiation of normal as well as neoplastic cells with respect to molecular mechanism(s) by which chemical agents or growth factors trigger maturation; (d) phenotypic and genetic aspects of apoptosis; (e) the role of growth factors, like IGF-l, FGF, TN, IL-6, etc. , in cell cycle regulation, apoptosis (cell death) and senescence; (f) molecular mechanisms of transcriptional activation of globin genes and stability of mRNAs related to growth proteins and iron metabolism; (g) the cellular and molecular biology of bone marrow hemopoiesis; and (h) neurotrophic factors and the generation of cellular diversity in the central nervous system. It was obvious from the studies presented that neoplastic cell growth, differentiation and apoptosis in many cell types are regulated at several levels.

Inhalt

LAP (NF-IL6) Modulates Hepatoma Cell Proliferation.- The Structural Basis for Specificity in Protein-Tyrosine Kinase Signaling.- PML Is a Primary Target Gene of Interferon and Could Mediate Some of Its Biological Activities.- Differentiation Therapy of Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia.- Biology of Haematopoietic Cell Growth Factors.- Mos, Meiosis and Cellular Transformation.- Cell Cycle Regulation in Intestinal Epithelial Cells.- MG-160, a Sialoglycoprotein of the Medial Cisternae of the Golgi Apparatus, Is Closely Related to a Receptor of Fibroblast Growth Factors and to a Ligand of E-Selectin: Functional Implications.- The Regulation of Human (?-Globin Gene Expression: the Dynamics of Transcriptional Competition in the Human ?-Globin Locus.- Post-Transcriptional Regulation of Iron Metabolism.- The Control of Multiplication and Differentiation in Human Myelomonocytic Leukemia Cells.- The Role of Oncogenes in the Integrated Control of Cell Proliferation and Cell Death.- Molecular Mechanisms Controlling Susceptibility to Tumor Necrosis Factor Induced Cell Death.- Cell-Cell Interactions in Osteoblastic Metastasis Caused by Advanced Prostate Cancer.- Apoptosis in Colonic Epithelium: a Message from the Crypt.- Characterisation of a Retroviral Insertion Mutagenesis Protocol to Obtain Mutants with Activated Apoptosis Inhibitory Genes.- Structure-Function Studies of Murine MIP-2, the Homologue of Melanoma Growth Stimulating Activity/Gro-? and IL-8.- Effect of Retinoic Acid on CD14 Expression and the Intracellular Distribution of Inositol Following LPS-Stimulation in U937 Cells.- Regulation of the Proto-Oncogene Product c-Jun by Phosphorylation-Mediated Intramolecular Signaling.- The Generation of Cellular Diversity in the CNS.- Stromal Cell Control of Haemopoiesis.- The Insulin-Like Growth Factor I Receptor and Its Role in Tumorigenesis and Cell Survival.- Inhibition of Megakaryocyte Differentiation in Vivo by E2F-1.- Regulation of c-myc mRNA Half-Life by an RNA-Binding Protein.- Role of Intracellular Interleukin-6 in Growth Factor-Induced Cell Proliferation.- Differentiation of Malignant Cells as a Therapeutic Approach.- Regulation of Murine Erythroleukemia Cell Differentiation.- Expression of Tyrosine Kinases in the Mouse Small Intestine.- The Discovery and Characterization of Neurotrophic and Myotrophic Factors.