This book provides a practical guide to current methods for profiling and interpreting genomic alterations in tumors. Chapters detail methods to interrogate DNA variation, RNA expression, and epigenetic changes using both next-generation sequencing and microarray techniques, common bioinformatics and annotation tools to glean relevant driver genomic events, and different performance characteristics as well as quality metrics necessary for the robust validation of tumor profiling as a diagnostic test for medical laboratories. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and cutting-edge, Tumor Profiling: Methods and Protocols aims to be a useful resource for learning about technical details, applications, and strengths and limitations of the latest technologies as applied to this increasingly important field.

Identifying tumor-specific molecular aberrations via molecular profiling is vital for the use of targeted therapies. Understanding a patient’s unique tumor genetics provides predictive and prognostic information that enables a personalized care plan to be put in place, improving outcomes and minimizing ineffective treatments. 'Fast Facts: Molecular Profiling in Solid Tumors' provides a firm knowledge foundation of somatic molecular profiling methodologies, key information to help with the use of molecular profiling in daily practice and advice on communicating with patients about molecular testing and results. Table of Contents: • Molecular profiling: the basics • Rationale for testing • Sample collection • Test selection and process • Interpreting the report • Talking to patients • Challenges and opportunities

Identifying tumor-specific molecular aberrations via molecular profiling is vital for the use of targeted therapies. Understanding a patient’s unique tumor genetics provides predictive and prognostic information that enables a personalized care plan to be put in place, improving outcomes and minimizing ineffective treatments. 'Fast Facts: Molecular Profiling in Solid Tumors' provides a firm knowledge foundation of somatic molecular profiling methodologies, key information to help with the use of molecular profiling in daily practice and advice on communicating with patients about molecular testing and results. Table of Contents: • Molecular profiling: the basics • Rationale for testing • Sample collection • Test selection and process • Interpreting the report • Talking to patients • Challenges and opportunities

A comprehensive review of the use of global gene expression profiling to understand human tumors. The authors focus on the analysis of human tissue samples for a variety of cancers, including breast, colorectal, lung, renal, ovarian, bone, and brain tumors, among others. A primer on the technology and its novel analytical methods. Contains over 40 color images. Explains both the theory and practice of comprehensive gene expression profiling. Timely and topical, Expression Profiling of Human Tumors: Diagnostic and Research Applications offers every oncologist, pathologists, and cancer surgeons an essential introduction to the most promising new high-throughput investigative approaches in molecular biology-technology that is already dramatically reshaping the future of cancer research, diagnostic pathology, and clinical oncology.

Despite considerable advances in our understanding of the biology that underlies tumor development and progression of cancer and the rapidly evolving field of personalized medicine, cancer is still one of the deadliest diseases. Many cancer patients have benefited from the survival improvements observed with targeted therapies but only a small subset of patients receiving targeted drugs experience an objective response. Because cancer is a complex and heterogeneous disease, the search for effective cancer treatments will need to address not only patient-specific molecular defects but also aspects of the tumor microenvironment. The functional tumor profiling directly measures the cellular phenotype, in particular tumor growth, in response to drugs using patient-derived tumor models and might be the next step toward precision oncology. In this Element, the authors discuss the personalized drug screening as a novel patient stratification strategy for the determination of individualized treatment choices in oncology.

Cancer is a multifaceted disease in which genetic changes induce uncontrolled tumor growth. Genomic characterization of cancer is now leading to better diagnostic, prognostic and predictive biomarkers, and effective individualized management. 'Fast Facts: Comprehensive Genomic Profiling' provides a crash course in the science, methods and application of genomic profiling. Assuming only the most basic knowledge – or memory – of cell biology, the authors provide an overview of DNA and RNA biology and next-generation sequencing. This sets in context the descriptions of prognostic and predictive biomarkers for different cancer types and genomic-based treatments. Finally, but importantly, some of the practicalities of gaining and interpreting genomic information are described. Whether you need a primer or a refresher, this short colorful book demystifies this complex subject. Contents: • Genetic mutations and biomarkers • Understanding next-generation sequencing • Elements of comprehensive genomic profiles • Role in precision oncology • Predictive and prognostic biomarkers • Overcoming barriers to genotype-directed therapy

The contribution of modern-day genetics in designing efficient gene expression profiles for cancer is immense. The progress of technology and science in recent years provides the opportunity for discovery and application of new techniques for treating various diseases that affect humanity. Methods for finding and analyzing the profile of gene expression of infected cells give scientists the ability to develop more targeted and effective treatments, especially for diseases such as cancer. The development of gene expression profiling is one of the most important achievements in cancer genetics in our time. It is essentially the driving force behind personalized and precision medicine. This book highlights recent developments, applications, and breakthroughs in the field of gene expression profiling in cancer.

This book provides an up-to-date and comprehensive primer on image-guided interventions for cancer. Image-guided interventional oncology is gaining popularity as it is a minimally invasive and more precisely targeted approach that both proves more effective and results in fewer side effects. This book’s aim is to provide a clinical guide to interventional oncology for the entire oncology team. Chapters are approached with the same interdisciplinary perspective that is used in the care itself, with each chapter written by an interventional radiologist with contributions from medical, surgical and/or radiation oncologists. Chapters cover the major cancers that can benefit from interventional oncology treatment (including lung, liver, kidney, and bone), as well as some of the physics and physiology behind these interventional modalities. This is an ideal guide for interventional radiologists, medical oncologists, surgical oncologists, radiation oncologists, as well as relevant trainees.

It has been recognized for almost 200 years that certain families seem to inherit cancer. It is only in the past decade, however, that molecular genetics and epidemiology have combined to define the role of inheritance in cancer more clearly, and to identify some of the genes involved. The causative genes can be tracked through cancer-prone families via genetic linkage and positional cloning. Several of the genes discovered have subsequently been proved to play critical roles in normal growth and development. There are also implications for the families themselves in terms of genetic testing with its attendant dilemmas, if it is not clear that useful action will result. The chapters in The Genetics of Cancer illustrate what has already been achieved and take a critical look at the future directions of this research and its potential clinical applications.

Genomic sequencing technologies have augmented the classification of cancer beyond tissue of origin and towards a molecular taxonomy of cancer. This has created opportunities to guide treatment decisions for individual patients with cancer based on their cancer’s unique molecular characteristics, also known as precision cancer medicine. The purpose of this text will be to describe the contribution and need for multiple disciplines working together to deliver precision cancer medicine. This entails a multi-disciplinary approach across fields including molecular pathology, computational biology, clinical oncology, cancer biology, drug development, genetics, immunology, and bioethics. Thus, we have outlined a current text on each of these fields as they work together to overcome various challenges and create opportunities to deliver precision cancer medicine. As trainees and junior faculty enter their respective fields, this text will provide a framework for understanding the role and responsibility for each specialist to contribute to this team science approach.