Antonio Russo (editor) - Practical Medical Oncology Textbook

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Clinical oncology is a rapidly evolving field. Within just a few years, increase in understanding of the molecular and immunological basis of cancer provided a strong base to clinical development of novel treatment options for patients across many cancer types. Several targeted therapies and immunotherapy are changing the clinical landscape and the natural history of many tumors, with an impact on patients survival. To maximize the patient benefit, prognostic and predictive biomarkers are under investigation to identify patients who will likely benefit from therapy, and multimodal diagnostic tools, such as liquid biopsy, are opening new frontiers to cancer diagnosis, screenings and therapeutic decisions.

In this textbook, many specialists in the field have covered many aspects of medical oncology. The first general section provides a comprehensive overview and background information on tumor biology and genetics, innovative technologies for clinical and translational research, and covers introductory topics on the main treatment modalities in the care of cancer patients. The following chapters are included in the clinical section on tumor presentations, diagnosis, prognosis, until the current state-of-the-art of medical treatment. It provides a systematic overview of all types of solid tumors, including epidemiology and cancer prevention, genetic aspects of hereditary cancers, differential diagnosis, typical signs and symptoms, diagnostic strategies and staging, and treatment modalities. Special attention is given to new and innovative treatments for cancer patients, such as targeted therapy and immunotherapy.

This textbook combines, therefore, essential information on clinical cancer medicine with a guide to the latest advances in molecular oncology and tumor biology. Expert commentaries at the end of each chapter highlight key points, offer hints for deeper insights, suggest further reading and discuss clinical application through the description of cases.