New Perspectives in Molecular and Clinical Management of Gastrointestinal Tumors

Over the past few years, a wealth of new insights have been gained and put to use in basic gastrointestinal tumor research, including tumor suppressor genes, oncogenes, cell-cycle con trol, apoptosis, adhesion receptors, signal transduction, and gene therapy. Similarly, progress has been made in preven tion, molecular diagnosis, laparoscopic staging, and antibody based immunotherapy, and new drugs such as thyrnidylate and topoisomerase I inhibitors have been developed espe cially for the treatment of colorectal carcinoma. Despite this burgeoning of knowledge in both basic and clinical research, however, we have just begun to put these results into clinical practice. Therefore, the key goal of this volume is to bring together basic and clinical research findings so as to facilitate the translation of these advances into the clinical manage ment of gastrointestinal tumors. We hope that this volume, which covers a broad spectrum of research and clinical medicine, will impart new insights and greater understanding to all those interested in the therapy of gastrointestinal tumors and will stimulate further scientific research. Berlin, January 1996 E. D. Kreuser P. M. Schlag Contents 1 I. Basic Research S. J. Meltzer The Molecular Biology of Esophageal Carcinoma 1 E. R. Greenberg Preventing Colorectal Cancer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 M. Streit, R. Schmidt, R. U. Hi/genfeld, E. Thiel, and E. -D. Kreuser Adhesion Receptors in Malignant Transformation and Dissemination of Gastrointestinal Tumors. . . . . . . 19 R. Kaiser, E. Thiel, and E. -D. Kreuser Human Gene Therapy in Gastrointestinal Diseases: In Vivo and In Vitro Approaches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Autorentext
Prof. Dr. med. Ernst- Dietrich Kreuser ist Chefarzt der Klinik für Internistische Onkologie und Hämatologie am Krankenhaus Barmherzige Brüder Regensburg. Er ist Vorstandsmitglied im Tumorzentrum Regensburg und in der Bayerischen Krebsgesellschaft und Autor zahlreicher medizinischer Fachartikel. Prof. Dr. Peter M. Schlag, Direktor des Charité Comprehensive Cancer Center, Berlin.

Klappentext

This volume focuses on new and exciting approaches in the molecular and clinical management of gastrointestinal tumors. The first part presents recent insights into carcinogenesis, including alterations in cycline and adhesion receptors, molecular structures which might be new targets of gene therapy. The second part offers new diagnostic tools, such as receptors for gastrointestinal hormones, proliferation markers, tumor suppressor proteins, and the multiple drug resistance gene, predicting response to therapy and prognosis of gastrointestinal tumors. The third part gives an update of successful approaches in primary and secondary prevention of colorectal carcinoma.

Inhalt
I. Basic Research.- The Molecular Biology of Esophageal Carcinoma.- Preventing Colorectal Cancer.- Adhesion Receptors in Malignant Transformation and Dissemination of Gastrointestinal Tumors.- Human Gene Therapy in Gastrointestinal Diseases: In Vivo and In Vitro Approaches.- Signal Transduction as Target of Gene Therapy.- II. Diagnostic Tools.- Prognostic Significance of Molecular Biological and Immunohistological Parameters in Gastrointestinal Carcinomas.- Molecular Mechanisms and Possibilities of Overcoming Drug Resistance in Gastrointestinal Tumors.- Radiological Modalities in the Staging of Colorectal Tumors: New Perspectives for Increasing Accuracy.- Immunological and Molecular Classification of Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue Lymphoma.- Somatostatin Receptor Scintigraphy in the Diagnosis of Neuroendocrine Gastroenteropancreatic Tumors.- III. Therapeutic Approaches.- Basis and Consequences of Primary and Secondary Prevention of Gastrointestinal Tumors.- Drug Therapy in Metastatic Neuroendocrine Tumors of the Gastroenteropancreatic System.- Laparoscopic Lymph Node Assessment in Pretherapeutic Staging of Gastric and Esophageal Cancer.- Radiation Therapy Alone or Combined with Chemotherapy in the Treatment of Esophageal Cancer.- Preoperative Chemotherapy in Gastric Cancer.- Current Aspects of Sphincter Preservation in the Surgical Therapy of Rectal Cancer.- Preoperative and Postoperative Radiotherapy in Rectal Carcinoma.- Hyperthermia in the Multimodal Therapy of Advanced Rectal Carcinomas.- Adjuvant Treatment of Colon and Rectal Cancer: Impact of Chemotherapy, Radiotherapy, and Immunotherapy on Routine Postsurgical Patient Management.- Current Treatment Modalities in Advanced Colorectal Carcinoma.- Antibody-Based Immunotherapeutic Strategies in Colorectal Cancer.-Surgical Concepts for Therapy of Pancreatic Neoplasms.- Chemotherapy for Patients with Adenocarcinoma of the Pancreas.- Phase II Data on Paclitaxel and Docetaxel in Gastrointestinal Malignancies.