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There has been a tremendous advancement in cancer therapeutics, and this book focuses on new approaches to one of the major cancers of the female reproductive system—cervical cancer. Cervical cancer is the fourth most frequent cancer in women worldwide and, especially, a foremost cause of morbidity in women in developing countries, including India. Several research findings have suggested that modulation in various signaling pathways is responsible for cervical cancer pathogenesis, and inhibition of these crucial pathways could be a better therapeutic approach for cervical cancer management. This book expounds on this approach, providing a detailed insight of the deregulated oncogenic signaling pathways involved in the progression of cervical cancer.The key topics covered within this book include Signaling pathways involved in cervical cancer Mechanisms behind the involvement of these aberrant signaling pathways Cell signaling pathways and their alterations in cancer Molecular biology behind cervical cancer Drug development approaches for the management of cervical cancer Cervical cancer therapeutics and the possible aspects, including progression and inhibition using natural products and synthetic approaches Oncologists, cancer scientists, and research professionals will benefit from this volume, which provides a single platform that presents new research on the pathways responsible for the progression of cervical cancer so that they, in turn, can design their research work effectively and can discover novel innovations in the field of cancer therapeutics.

​This book presents drug repurposing strategies to combat infectious diseases and cancer. It discusses key experimental and in silico approaches for modern drug repositioning, including signature matching, molecular docking, genome-wide associated studies, and network-based approaches aided by artificial intelligence. Further, the book presents various computational and experimental strategies for better understanding disease mechanisms and identify repurposed drug candidates for personalized pharmacotherapy. It also explores the databases for drug repositioning, summarizes the approaches taken for drug repositioning, and highlights and compares their characteristics and challenges. Towards the end, the book discusses challenges and limitations encountered in computational drug repositioning.

This reference book, which is the second volume of Targeting Oxidative Stress in Cancer, explores oxidative stress as the potential therapeutic target for cancer therapy. The initial chapters discuss the molecular mechanisms of oxidative stress and its effects on different signaling pathways. Subsequently, the sections examine the impact of redox signaling on tumor cell proliferation and consider the therapeutic potential of dietary phytochemicals and nutraceuticals in reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced cancer. In turn, it examines the evidence supporting the use of Vitamin C in cancer management, before presenting various synthetic and natural compounds that have therapeutic implications for oxidative stress-induced cancer. It also explores the correlation between non-coding RNA and oxidative stress. Furthermore, the book summarizes the role of stem cells in ROS-induced cancer therapy and reviews the therapeutic applications of nanoparticles to alter redox haemostasis in cancer cells. Lastly, it explores heat-shock proteins, ubiquitin ligases, and probiotics as potential therapeutic agents in ROS-mediated cancer. This book is a useful resource for basic and translational scientists as well as clinicians interested in the field of oxidative stress and cancer therapy. ​

This book reflects the state of the art of our understanding of the WNT signaling system, which comprises a network of signaling pathways initiated by the secreted WNT lipoglycoproteins, which are crucial for embryonal development, stem cell regulation, tissue homeostasis and repair. Dysfunction of this evolutionarily conserved signaling system leads to many diseases including developmental disorders, diverse forms of cancer, fibrosis, neurodegenerative disease and many more. The WNT signaling system is built upon 19 mammalian, secreted WNT lipoglycoproteins that interact with a plethora of distinct receptors, such as the G protein-coupled receptors called Frizzleds (FZD1-10), LDL receptor-like proteins (LRP5/6), receptor tyrosine kinases (ROR1, 2, RYK and PTK7). In addition, WNT pathways are tightly regulated by many secreted and cell-intrinsic negative regulators, such as soluble FZD-related proteins (SFRPs), Dickkopfs (DKKs), WNT-inhibitory proteins, TIKI, RNF43 and more. Understanding the basic mechanism in terms of receptor-ligand interaction, receptor selectivity, signal initiation and desensitization remain poorly understood, even though substantial advances have been made the recent years. Due to the involvement of the WNT signaling system in human disease, it appears obvious to target diverse branches pharmacologically and therapeutically. However, given the complexity of the system and its importance for stem cell regulation and tissue maintenance, therapy comes with obvious risks for severe side effects. The field is addressing the challenge to identify suitable targets and selective compounds for therapy allowing disease-selective therapeutic effects and balancing unwanted side effects. This book summarizes the current understanding of the basic and applied pharmacology in the WNT signaling system and bridges disciplines such as pharmacology, physiology, neurosciences, oncology and drug development.

This text is a fast and convenient overview of the clinical trials in gynecologic cancer treatment, setting out the evidence base of treatment decisions in uterine, ovarian, cervical and vulval cancers and gestational trophoblastic neoplasia. Residents and fellows will find this book an indispensable reference for revision, while existing practitioners will welcome it as a clarification of the evidence base for treatment options.

This book reviews recent knowledge of the role of stem cells in the gastrointestinal system. It covers extensive topics for each organ, including the pancreas, esophagus, liver, and colon, while also discussing the contributions of stem cells to therapeutic approaches toward gastrointestinal diseases, including inflammatory bowel diseases. Comprehensive and cutting-edge, Digestive System Diseases: Stem Cell Mechanisms and Therapies deepens a reader's theoretical expertise in gastrointestinal stem cell biology. It furthers scientists'understanding of gastrointestinal stem cells and, most importantly, the development of novel therapeutic targets. Graduate and postdoctoral students, medical doctors (including gastroenterologists and surgeons), and principal investigators in both academia and industry will benefit from this book. In particular, it is a valuable resource for professionals within the fields of gastrointestinal research, pharmaceutical science, molecular biology, regenerative medicine, and genetics.

Gynecologic malignancies, especially endometrial and ovarian cancers are among the most important and most severely affected by obesity. This volume of Energy Balance and Cancer, written by the world's leading experts in this field, is arranged to provide a transdisciplinary assessment of the pertinent issues, results of relevant research on mechanisms, and control, strategies for dealing with affected patients and improving outcomes and future research needs. The volume comprehensively covers the epidemiology linking obesity to endometrial and ovarian cancer as well as the public awareness of this critical problem. Subsequent chapters explain biologic aspects of linkages between energy balance and gynecologic malignancies. The volume further outlines strategies to disrupt the linkage between obesity and gynecologic malignancies and concludes with a series of chapters focused on management strategies for obese patients with gynecologic malignancies. This volume provides a valuable resource for all physicians, scientists and other transdisciplinary investigators and practitioners interested and involved in energy balance and cancer. It should be a particularly useful guide to optimize outcomes for all practitioners dealing with patients with gynecologic malignancies challenged by energy balance issues. Moreover, it should serve as a useful guide to students and investigators interested in conducting further research on defining and disrupting the important linkage between energy balance and gynecologic malignancies.

This volume presents a snapshot of some of the most important ongoing research in cancer. With cancer as the second leading cause of death worldwide, extensive research is going on globally to decipher the molecular mechanism underlying cancer that will help in finding better targets for drug therapy. The book brings together new research on molecular mechanism and cancer therapeutics in one place. With chapters from experts in their respective fields, chapters cover molecular mechanisms, etiology, prognosis, detection, and treatment of cancer. Emphasis has been given to the intricate mechanism behind the deregulation of cell division, disruption of cell cycle check points, mutation in oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes, apoptosis, and erratic cell signaling. The book discusses in detail topics such as angiogenesis and tumor microenvironment, which are increasingly receiving attention, especially in the field of neoplastic vascularization and metastasis. The book also includes chapters detailing the current understanding and the future perspective of cancer stem cells.

This book provides an overview of the latest developments in the concepts and management of ovarian cancer. The new data presented throughout opens the way to radically different therapeutic approaches. Surgery remains the core of ovarian cancer treatment, but its ultimate goal and the standard surgical procedure have evolved, giving rise to the question of how to label expert centers for debulking surgery. Neo-adjuvant chemotherapy is becoming more popular and is also a new field for testing novel drug combinations.Over recent years, ovarian cancer management has embraced molecular biology. It is now more correct to talk about cancers of the ovary rather than ovarian cancer, since it is not a unique disease but several entities with different molecular drivers. The significant advances in drugs targeting the microenvironment or the tumor cell DNA repair mechanisms are presented in detail together with exciting future perspectives.All these advances would not have been possible without collaborative groups such as the GINECO group in France and their integration in wider clinical research networks at the European (ENGOT) and international (GCIG) level.

Advances in Cancer Research provides invaluable information on the exciting and fast-moving field of cancer research. Here, once again, outstanding and original reviews are presented on a variety of topics. - Provides information on cancer research - Offers outstanding and original reviews on a range of cancer research topics - Serves as an indispensable reference for researchers and students alike

The concept of cancer stem cells has great clinical implications. This is due to the fact that small subpopulations of these cells have been identified in a variety of neoplastic conditions ranging from solid tumors to liquid malignancies. Although there are some huge gaps in our current understanding of the role played by cancer stem cells in cancer biology, a growing body of evidence provides strong support for the principal functions of these cells in tumorigenesis. This has represented the potential of cancer stem cells in the development of novel and innovative tools for the treatment of metastatic tumors. This book aims to offer a broad framework for obtaining insight into the state-of-the-art knowledge on cancer stem cell biology and highlight the therapeutic implications of these cells in the future of clinical oncology.

Volume 11 in this series discusses therapeutic applications of stem cells in disease and tissue injury. Coverage includes pluripotent stem cells, which can give rise to the endodermal, ectodermal, and mesodermal lineages; multipotent stem cells, which can generate all cells in a particular lineage and unipotent stem cells, which can give rise to only one cell type. This volume also examines cancer stem cells, tumor-initiating cells which possesses the capacity of self-renewal and can give rise to the heterogeneous lineages of cancer cells that comprise the tumor. Coverage extends to molecular mechanisms underlying the derivation and expansion of human embryonic stem cells, the role of specific proteins in the maintenance and inhibition of extraembryonic differentiation of these cells and the role of signaling responsible for the self-renewal of mouse embryonic stem cells. Nine chapters discuss the clinical importance of cancer stem cells, encompassing glioma, leukemia, ovarian cancer, pediatric sarcomas and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. The role of cancer stem cells is also elucidated in epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in spreading head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. The book goes on to survey therapeutic application of stem cells of hematopoietic and non-hematopoietic origin for regeneration of bones, including in osteoporotic bone disease; to illuminate the application of hematopoietic stem cells in bone regeneration and to discuss their use as a biomarker to facilitate determination of a treatment. The contributors review cells as biomarkers for pediatric solid tumors, and weigh the advantages and limitations of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Also included are details of neural stem cell engraftment in the injured spinal cord; the regenerative potential of neural stem/progenitor cells of newborns and cancer gene therapy potential using neural stem cells. Like the preceding volumes in the series, this book is distinguished for itscomprehensive approach, its distinguished roster of 58 contributors representing 10 different countries and its thorough review of leading-edge technology and methods.

Understanding the role of hedgehog signaling in cancer is critically important for novel cancer therapeutics. The hedgehog pathway is a major pathway regulating cell differentiation, tissue polarity, stem cell maintenance and cell proliferation. It is known by now that activation of this pathway occurs in a variety of human cancer, including basal cell carcinomas (BCCs), medulloblastomas, leukemia, gastrointestinal, lung, ovarian, breast and prostate cancers. This book provides insightful views suitable for graduate students, medical students, undergraduate students, basic and clinical scientists, cancer patients as well as the general public.

Inappropriate activation of the Wnt signaling pathway is observed in many human cancers and is sufficient to drive tumor initiation and progression in numerous contexts. Multiple mechanisms, such as overexpression of Wnt ligands, inactivation of the APC and Axin tumor suppressors, and mutation of -catenin, are responsible for pathway activation in tumor cells. The development of potent Wnt pathway antagonists for therapeutic use has been a major effort for investigators in both academia and industry in recent years. This book will provide an overview of the Wnt pathway as a therapeutic target for cancer, and discuss the preclinical development of inhibitors specifically directed to upstream and downstream components of the pathway.

Malignant mesothelioma is an aggressive and fatal neoplasm of serous membranes that still shows a rising incidence worldwide. This book covers all the important aspects of the disease by bringing together contributions from selected experts in the fields of epidemiology, imaging, pathological diagnosis, therapy, genetics, and screening. Special emphasis is placed on the latest diagnostic techniques and current therapy standards. In addition, the mineralogy of asbestos is reviewed and clear advice is included on the analysis of tissue mineral fiber content. By providing a compact, scientifically based, and up-to-date overview of the management of malignant mesothelioma, this volume will be invaluable for all clinicians and pathologists who are engaged in the diagnosis and treatment of the disease or in related research.