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This book provides the most recent update on the management of neuroendocrine neoplasia (NEN), a term covering all tumors of various organs and/or with a particular histology, including MEN (multiple endocrine neoplasia) related tumors, MiNEN (mixed neuroendocrine-non-neuroendocrine neoplasms), NEC (neuroendocrine carcinoma) and Merkel's carcinoma. NENs are heterogeneous in their biology, clinical presentation and prognosis, showing a great variability in aggressiveness and therapy response. As a result, their treatment is based on a large spectrum of options. The standard therapies are surgery in early disease, various loco-regional procedures in certain conditions and mostly of a palliative nature in metastatic disease. At present, thanks to our increased understanding of molecular signaling pathways, several pharmacological approaches can be used in patients with advanced NENs. Somatostatin analogs display both anti-tumor effects and symptom control. Novel peptide-radio-receptortreatment (PRRT) is used in patients with well differentiated tumors. The agents targeting angiogenesis and/or PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, alone or in combination with analogues, have provided encouraging results in advanced disease. The first part of the book focuses on the history, epidemiology and the most relevant scientific achievements, covering the discoveries in genetic and molecular biology, the endoscopic techniques with guided biopsy, and the metabolic imaging with hybrid PET/CT and MRI/CT. It particularly highlights the emerging strategies in therapy, surgery and mini-invasive surgery as well as loco-regional and systemic treatments, including targeted therapy and/or biological therapies. The second part then explores the management of NENs of various anatomical origins and/or with peculiar biology. It describes the range of the current options and the most relevant results from the clinical trials. This informative book provides valuable insights for all thoseinterested in the management of neuroendocrine neoplasia.

This book offers an updated review of malignant mesothelioma, including the latest advances in our understanding of its genetic control and molecular biology, as well as pre-clinical and clinical research. It also presents state-of-the-art diagnostic approaches and therapeutic options, and an open discussion on the future prospects for patient management. Malignant mesothelioma is an enormous global health problem related to asbestos exposure. Despite the best efforts of scientists and oncologists, the prognosis for those affected remains poor. Due to anatomical characteristics and non-specific symptoms, the diagnosis of mesothelioma at an early stage is often difficult, while surgery and radiotherapy are only of limited use, even if some multimodality approaches seem promising. In turn, medical treatments are sometimes successful in tumor control, but have little impact on overall survival. However, advances in our understanding of the disease's biology, together withthe availability of new drugs and combinations, make mesothelioma an essential and highly topical field for pre-clinical and clinical studies. This book is subdivided into four parts: epidemiology and preclinical data, diagnosis, therapy, and extrathoracic mesothelioma. It highlights the progress made in a variety of areas – e.g. in vitro and in vivo experimental models, genetics, environment, biomarkers, targeting agents, immunotherapy, metabolic imaging and ongoing clinical trials – and describes the standard clinical management of mesothelioma patients, including those with extra-thoracic localizations. Given its scope, the book offers an invaluable tool for researchers, oncologists and clinicians alike.

This book offers a practical and modern update on radioisotope therapy. Clinically oriented, it provides a thorough guide to patient management, with the latest indications and procedures for the current radioisotopic treatments. It addresses the clinical problems associated with each respective pathology, discussing the management of patients (diagnosis and non-radioisotope therapy), the radiopharmaceuticals available today, and the current radioisotopic procedures. Wherever possible, information on dosimetry is included at the end of each topic, together with a list of and comments on the most recent guidelines with their recommendations for radiometabolic therapy.The book is divided into six main sections: thyroid diseases, hepatic tumors (HCC and hepatic metastases), bone metastases from prostate cancer, lymphomas, and neuroendocrine tumors. The last section is dedicated to new perspectives of radioisotope treatment. Based on contributions from of a multidisciplinary team of specialists: oncologists, surgeons, endocrinologists, hematologists, urologists, radiopharmacists and nuclear medicine physicians, it provides a comprehensive analysis of the position of radioisotope treatments among the various therapeutic options. Readers interested in targeted therapy, radiometabolic therapy, radioimmunotherapy and radiometabolic imaging will find this book both informative and insightful.

This book presents up-to-date information on one of the hottest topics in prostate cancer, namely bone metastases. The most recent developments with respect to biology, pathology, diagnosis, and treatment are described, providing readers with an excellent understanding of the mechanisms of metastasis formation, the characteristics of metastases, their aggressiveness, and prognostic factors for treatment response. The coverage includes discussion of all of the best available options (laboratory, radiology, and nuclear medicine) for achieving early diagnosis and both established and novel therapeutic approaches. Detailed information is provided on hormonal manipulations, bone-targeted agents, vaccines, taxanes, and other treatments that are enriching the therapeutic armamentarium. The editors can be considered leaders in the field, with great experience in diagnostic and clinical oncology and research, and the authors are experts in diverse specialties. This ensures a multidisciplinary approach, mirroring the current situation in which treatment in patients with bone metastases is undertaken by a team of specialists and health professionals in a variety of fields.

There can never be enough material in the public domain about cancers, and particularly breast cancer. This book adds much to the literature. It provides general information on breast cancer management and considers all new methods of diagnosis and therapy. It focuses on nuclear medicine modalities by comparing their results with other diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. The coverage provides readers with up-to-date knowledge on breast cancer as well as information on the advances in the field of diagnosis. It also details data on the development of some new modalities and provides a general overview of the available tools for breast cancer treatment.

The diagnostic and therapeutic achievements in radiopharmaceuticals and nuclear medicine instrumentation - PET, SPECT, MR, CT and their hypbrids PET-CT and SPECT-CT - are the result of the interdisciplinary research efforts of cell-biologists, chemists, pharmacologists, physicists, computer-scientists, engineers, nuclear medicine physicians, a