The first part of this book summarizes the rationale and the preclinical data for combined treatment with ionizing radiation and pharmaceutical agents. Individual chapters focus on forms of combined treatment, with due consideration being given to a range of drugs and to emerging combinations with small molecules and antibodies. The second part comprises a series of disease-specific chapters in which the clinical results of combined modality treatment are presented.

This book aims to address the infusion sequence of the main protocols used in the treatment of varied solid cancers. Since an inadequate infusion sequence can compromise the patient's treatment, this work will provide support to professionals working in the field of oncology in assessing each chemotherapy infusion sequence. The introductory chapters present the definition, indication, and the risks and benefits of polypharmacy in cancer therapy, and discuss the importance of drug combination in cancer treatment. Chapter 2 focuses on the challenges and also the toxicity of combination therapy in cancer, while chapter 3 highlights the parameters that must be evaluated before defining the infusion sequence, such as pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic profiles, drugs’ stability when diluted or reconstituted, toxicological profile of each drug, among others. The remaining chapters are divided by type of cancer. The content is focused on solid tumors, dividing the chapters according to breast, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, gynecological, head and neck, lung, and neurological cancers. In each chapter the epidemiological profiles, pathophysiology, therapeutic modalities, and the main chemotherapy protocols are addressed, as well as efficacy studies and data on the infusion sequence of each mentioned protocol. This work will be a valuable resource to physicians, nurses, and pharmacists, and may help to improve health service practices.

This revised edition of Contrast Media: Safety Issues and Guidelines, updates the successful first edition and contains new chapters. It provides an invaluable, unique and unparalleled source of information on the safety issues relating to contrast media.

The role of molecular genetics in the treatment of malignancy continues to grow at an astonishing rate. Today’s subspecialized multidisciplinary approach to oncology has incorporated advances in targeted molecular therapy, prognosis, risk assessment, and prevention—all based at least in part on molecular diagnostics and imaging. Inside this cutting-edge resource, readers will explore broad, comprehensive perspectives on the current trends in molecular diagnosis of cancer and personalized cancer medicine. Authoritative discussions share insights from noted experts in cancer research, clinical trials, molecular diagnostics, personalized therapy, bioinformatics, and federal regulations. From the basic mechanisms of carcinogenesis to the most advanced molecular screening, staging, and treatment technologies, readers will discover clear and straightforward discussions directly relevant to patient diagnosis and care.

Supportive Oncology, by Drs. Davis, Feyer, Ortner, and Zimmermann, is your practical guide to improving your patients‘ quality of life and overall outcomes by integrating palliative care principles into the scope of clinical oncologic practice at all points along their illness trajectories. A multidisciplinary editorial team, representing the dual perspectives of palliative medicine and oncology, offers expert guidance on how to effectively communicate diagnoses and prognoses with cancer patients and their families, set treatment goals, and manage symptoms through pharmacological therapies, as well as non-pharmacological therapies and counselling when appropriate. Integrate complementary palliative principles as early as possible after diagnosis with guidance from a multidisciplinary editorial team whose different perspectives and collaboration provide a well-balanced approach. Effectively communicate diagnoses and prognoses with cancer patients and their families, set treatment goals, and manage symptoms through pharmacological therapies, as well as non-pharmacological therapies and counseling when appropriate. Improve patients’ quality of life with the latest information on pain and symptom management including managing side effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, rehabilitating and counselling long-term survivors, and managing tumor-related symptoms and other complications in the palliative care setting. Prescribe the most effective medications, manage toxicities, and deal with high symptom burdens.

Builds on success and reputation of previous editions Draws on the considerable teaching experience of an international author team, most notably the US and European Editors The gold-standard European text for training, adopted by ESTRO as a course book, as a text for the Royal College of Radiologists' radiobiology exam and by courses in the US Highly illustrated with new, 2 colour illustrations Clear and concise style, appropriate for trainees and also practising radiation oncologists requiring a ready reference to the subject Includes new chapters on stem cells, tissue response and the meeting point of meeting point of radiotherapy, radiobiology and physics

This concise but comprehensive textbook sets out the essentials of the science and clinical application of radiobiology for those seeking accreditation in radiation oncology, clinical radiation physics and radiation technology. Fully revised and updated to keep abreast of current developments in radiation biology and radiation oncology, the fourth edition continues to present in an interesting way the biological basis of radiation therapy, discussing the basic principles and significant developments that underlie the latest attempts to improve the radiotherapeutic management of cancer. New topics for the fourth edition include chapters on the mechanisms of cell death, biological response modifiers, and biological image guided radiotherapy, with major revisions to sections on the molecular basis of the radiation response, tumour hypoxia and the dose-rate effect. A variety of new authors have contributed to this revision, who, together with the new Editorial team, have used their significant international teaching experience to ensure the content remains clear and comprehensive, and as valuable to the trainee as it is to the established radiation oncologist. With the fourth edition we will see the most radical change so far - as Professor Gordon Steel has retired as Editor and has been replaced by Bert van der Kogel, the current current course director for the above-mentioned course, plus Michael Joiner, who is the head of the Radiation Biology Program at the Wayne State University and is the Associate Editor of the International Journal of Radiation Biology.

Te rapidly changing concepts in radiation oncology with the development of more precise - strumentation for delivery of radiation therapy and a greater emphasis on hypofractionation technologies require a very intimate knowledge of tumor biology and the infuence of various biologic factors on dose distribution within the tumor in terms of homogeneity as well as prev- tion of any late efects on normal tissue surrounding the tumor itself. Not only are these major factors in clinical practice but also the known factors of inhomogeneity of cancer cells, the impact of microenvironment in terms of radiation efect, and host factors make it mandatory to design therapeutic strategies to improve the outcome and to diminish any potential short-term or lo- term risks from the radiation therapy. Te authors have developed an outstanding text that deals with these strategies and how they would impact on established and emerging new technologies and treatment. Te context of the presentations within a multidisciplinary combined modality therapy program is incredibly - portant. In this volume, various topics are reviewed including tumor genesis, cell proliferation, - giogenesis, the physiologic characteristics of malignant tissues, invasion and adhesion, the route and role pursued in the development of metastasis, and the role of the human immune system in cancer prevention and development.

During the past decade significant developments have been achieved in the field of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), enabling MRI to enter the clinical arena of chest imaging. Standard protocols can now be implemented on up-to-date scanners, allowing MRI to be used as a first-line imaging modality for various lung diseases, including cystic fibrosis, pulmonary hypertension and even lung cancer. The diagnostic benefits stem from the ability of MRI to visualize changes in lung structure while simultaneously imaging different aspects of lung function, such as perfusion, respiratory motion, ventilation and gas exchange. On this basis, novel quantitative surrogates for lung function can be obtained. This book provides a comprehensive overview of how to use MRI for imaging of lung disease. Special emphasis is placed on benign diseases requiring regular monitoring, given that it is patients with these diseases who derive the greatest benefit from the avoidance of ionizing radiation.

Optic nerve sheath meningioma (ONSM) is a rare tumour. Cases are usually separated into primary ONSM, which arises either intraorbitally or, less commonly, intracanalicularly, and secondary ONSM, which arises intracranially and subsequently invades the optic canal and orbit. This is the first book to cover all important aspects of the diagnosis and treatment of primary ONSM. After a general introduction, individual chapters discuss the clinical presentation, clinical examination and diagnosis, imaging, and histology. Treatment options are then addressed in detail, with special emphasis on external beam radiation therapy, and in particular stereotactic fractionated radiation therapy. The latter has recently produced consistently good results and is now considered the emerging treatment of choice for the vast majority of patients with primary ONSM. This well-illustrated book will prove invaluable to all practitioners who encounter primary ONSM in their clinical work.