In addition to its central role in blood coagulation, it has become increasingly apparent that thrombin and thrombin receptors are involved in many other physiological processes and can contribute to a variety of disease states such as tumor progression and metastasis, inflammation, neurological disorders and cardiovascular complications. This book is a collection of reviews of up-to-date information on the above topics by leaders in these fields.This book will be of value to resea...

Emerging Cancer Therapeutics is a trinary hard cover periodical that is designed to provide an up-to-date evidence-based review of a dedicated emerging cancer therapy topic of interest to clinicians and scientists involved in the care of patients receiving cancer treatment. It will serve as both a reference and instructional tool for students, housestaff, fellows, practicing clinical oncologists, radiation oncologists, surgical oncologists, cancer biologists, and interdisciplinary...

“Nerve-Driven Immunity: Neurotransmitters and Neuropeptides in the Immune System” summarizes, analyzes and sheds new light on an unrecognized, yet very important role of key neurotransmitters and neuropeptides in the immune system.Each chapter of the book deals with a different neurotransmitter/neuropeptide from the following list: Dopamine, Adrenaline, Noradrenaline, Acetylcholine, Glutamate, GABA, Somatostatin, Neuropeptide Y (NPY), Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), Calcito...

This work will provide a historical perspective on tumor immunotherapy, discuss fundamental mechanisms of failed tumor rejection, look at passive strategies to boost anti-tumor immunity, as well as have an in-depth look at active strategies to boost anti-tumor immunity.

Glioblastoma is the most malignant brain tumor that still remains incurable. It is such a deadly disease that patients do not survive more than a few months after diagnosis. Our understanding of the histopathology and molecular mechanisms of formation of glioblastoma is rapidly advancing so as to provide us clues for devising rational therapeutic strategies for treatment of this malignancy. It is important that we continue to improve our knowledge about the pathogenesis of this devastating...

This work describes the importance of tumor microenvironment in favouring tumor progression and angiogenesis.Under physiological conditions, angiogenesis is dependent on the balance of positive and negative angiogenic modulators within the vascular microenvironment and requires the functional activities of a number of molecules, including angiogenic factors, extracellular matrix proteins, adhesion molecules and proteolytic enzymes.In normal tissues, vascular quiescence is m...

The use of model organisms together with the power of genetics has profoundly affected our understanding of the physiology of one organ, the skeleton, in two distinct but complementary ways. This is the first translational reference to focus on these major conceptual advances in bone biology and their development in the clinic. Several advances have already been translated into therapies and others are being tested for diseases as different as osteoporosis, type-2 diabetes, and hypo-fertil...

Radiotherapy plays an integral role in cancer treatment. Approximately 60% of cancer patients will receive radiotherapy at some point in their treatment. A major improvement in patient outcomes occurs with the use of combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The combination of targeted biological agents with radiotherapy is the latest cutting-edge extension in cancer therapy for radiation oncologists.Combining Targeted Biological Agents with Radiotherapy: Current Status and Futur...

Chemokines are a superfamily of low molecular weight cytokines that were initially described based on their ability to induce the directed migration of leukocytes to sites of inflammation or injury. In humans, there are approximately 45 chemokines that bind to 19 G-protein-coupled receptors. In addition to mediating cellular migration, chemokines have now been shown to affect many cellular functions including survival, adhesion, invasion, proliferation, and to regulate circulating chemokin...

The aim of the issue is to describe and explain the importance of the chemokine system in hematology. The chemokine system is probably important for many aspects of normal as well as malignant hematopoiesis. A major focus is the development and treatment of hematologic malignancies, including the immunobiology of stem cell transplantation. The present reviews illustrate that chemokines can be involved in leukemogenesis. The chemokine system is also important both for the crosstalk between ...

“About 25 years ago, Mosmann & Coffman introduced the TH1 / TH2 paradigm of T helper cell differentiation which helped explain many aspects of adaptive immunity from eliminating intracellular versus extracellular pathogens to induction of different types of tissue inflammation. However, TH1 / TH2 paradigm could not adequately explain development of certain inflammatory responses which provided impetus for the discovery of a new subset of T cells called TH17 cells. After the discovery of di...

Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) is a secreted polypeptide with multifunctional properties manifested during embryonic development, adult organ physiology, and pathobiology of major diseases, including cancer and fibrotic and cardiovascular diseases. The signaling pathway of TGF-β now is rather well understood. Continuing revelations in the mechanisms of action of TGF-β provide specific mechanistic examples of how human cells lose their controlled function and behave wrongly during the...