There is no field of medicine in which advances in therapy have been so closely linked to a better understanding of molecular medicine than in the area of hematologic malignancies. For example, recent insights into the understanding of Epstein-Barr virus have led to new treatment options for patients with posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorders, as discussed in the chapter by Dr. Richard Ambinder et al. Similarly, Drs. Slack and Gallagher discuss the explosion of recent information regarding the molecular pathogenesis of acute promyelocytic leukemia. This particular morphologic subtype of acute my eloid leukemia warrants separate discussion because of our increased under standing of the pathogenesis of leukemia, as well as the dramatic advances in outcome that have occurred with differentiation therapy provided by the vitamin A derivative aW-trans retinoic acid, as discussed in the chapter by Drs. Frankel and Powell. New approaches in the therapy of diffuse aggressive lymphomas in relationship to prognostic factors are discussed by Drs. Koc and Schenkein. Novel approaches to cutaneous T-cell lymphomas are discussed by Drs. Foss and Kuzel. Drs. Fonseca and Greipp discuss prognostic factors in myeloma, which are potentially important since they may serve to identify patients who may benefit from aggressive therapy such as bone marrow trans plantation, which is discussed in the chapter by Dr. David Vesole. State-of-the-art reviews are provided in the chapters on AIDS-related non- Hodgkin's lymphoma by Drs. Volm and Von Roenn, adult acute lympho blastic leukemia by Drs.

Inhalt
New classifications for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.- EpsteinBarr virus and lymphoma.- Therapy of diffuse aggressive lymphomas.- The molecular biology of acute promyelocytic leukemia.- Current approaches to acute promyelocytic leukemia.- Prognosis in multiple myeloma.- Bone marrow and stem cell transplantation for multiple myeloma.- Hematopoietic growth factors and acute leukemia.- Novel treatment approaches for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.- AIDS-associated lymphoma.- Mechanisms of resistance against B-cell malignancies induced by vaccination against the immunoglobulin receptor: the case for T-cell immunity.- Novel biologic approaches to hematologic malignancies.- Recent advances in the biology and management of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in adults.- Advances in the therapy of the myelodysplastic syndromes.