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In this book, a group of internationally distinguished lymphoma experts provide a comprehensive review of the most important advances in the biology, diagnosis, and therapy of T cell and NK cell malignancies. In particular, it demonstrates in detail how advances in our understanding of the tumor microenvironment and molecular biology have helped to elucidate the pathogenesis of these lymphomas, improve diagnostic and prognostic accuracy, and develop novel therapies that promise improved patient outcomes. Individual chapters are devoted to particular tumor types and subtypes, and all aspects of transplantation for patients with T cell and NK cell lymphomas are discussed. As such, the book offers a valuable resource for hematologists, oncologists, hematopathologists, and all those seeking an up-to-date overview of how new, targeted therapies are delivering better disease control and improved quality of life.

This book is about the escape strategies used by cancer cells to avoid the immune response of the host. The main characters of this story are the “Antigen Presenting Molecules” and the “T Lymphocytes”. The former are known as the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC): the H-2 and the HLA molecules. The latter are a subgroup of white cells travelling all over our body which are capable to distinguish between “self and non self”. Readers will know from the inside about the history of the HLA genetic system and will discover how T lymphocytes recognize and destroy cancer cells. One of the key important questions is: Why tumors arise, develop and metastasize? This book tries to answer this question and will explain how cancer cells become invisible to killer T lymphocytes. The loss of the HLA molecules is a major player in this tumor escape mechanism. Cancer immunotherapy is aimed at stimulating T lymphocytes to destroy tumor cells. However, the clinical response rate is not as high as expected. The molecular mechanisms responsible for MHC/HLA antigen loss play a crucial role in this resistance to immunotherapy. This immune escape mechanism will be discussed in different types of tumors: lung, prostate, bladder and breast…ect. as well as melanoma and lymphoma. This book will be useful to Oncologists, Pathologists and Immunologist that will enter this fascinating area of research. It will be also interesting for biologist, doctoral students and medical residents interested in “Tumor Immunology”.

Cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCLs) are a heterogeneous group of Non-Hodgkin lymphomas with a variety of clinical presentation and outcomes. The diagnosis and treatment of CTCLs have evolved significantly with advances in our understanding of their pathogenesis and biological behaviors through immunophenotypic, molecular, and cytogenetic analysis and clinical correlation. The diagnosis and classification of CTCLs depend on integration of clinical presentation, histology, immunophenotype, molecular and/or cytogenetic findings. Accurate diagnosis and staging are essential for proper treatment and prognosis of the patients. The book Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma (CTCL): Clinical Features, Diagnosis and Treatment Options aims to provide the most up-to-date knowledge of the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment strategies of CTCL. Each chapter focuses on a different aspect of CTCL: clinical presentation, pathology, therapeutic options, role of radiation therapy, and in-depth discussion of the specific subtypes of CTCL classified under the most recent World Health Organization (WHO) classification of lymphoid neoplasms. The authors are practicing physicians in major medical centers and university hospitals, and are familiar with the challenges of diagnosing and treating patients with CTCL. The book is written for the practicing physicians and provides practical information and advice for their daily practice. Residents, fellows and other trainees will also find the contents of this book useful for their education and board preparation. The authors hope that the material covered in this book will serve as a foundation for the readers to keep up with future developments in the field.

The book starts with an introduction to and history of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), followed by a description of their differentiation, their role in the tumour microenvironment and their therapeutic targeting. It closes with an outlook on future developments. In cancer patients, myelopoiesis is perturbed and instead of generating immunogenic myeloid cells (such as dendritic cells, inflammatory macrophages and granulocytes), there is an increase in highly immature MDSCs. These cells are distributed systemically, resulting in general immunosuppression. They also infiltrate tumours, promoting their progression and metastasis by inhibiting the natural anti-tumour immune response. As these cells also interact with classical anti-neoplastic treatments, they have become major therapeutic targets in the pharmaceutical industry and in oncology research.

The mature T and NK cell lymphomas are rare, comprising approximately 10% of all malignant lymphomas. The incidence of T-cell lymphoma is variable around the world, with a higher incidence compared to B-cell lymphomas in the Asian basin. While the overall incidence of B-cell lymphomas has begun to decline in the United States, the incidence of T-cell lymphomas continues to rise. Over the last decade, a number of novel agents have been developed which target T-cell lymphomas and studies have identified novel genes and pathways associated with lymphomagenesis in T-cells. This comprehensive volume examines the clinical and biological aspects of the T-cell lymphoproliferative disorders in adults and children. The book includes an overview of both the cutaneous and the systemic T-cell malignancies and addresses the classification of T-cell lymphomas, the clinical features of each subtype, and the relevant molecular and genetic studies. Clinical outcomes and treatment strategies are discussed with an emphasis on the development of novel biological and targeted therapies. An outstanding resource for hematologists and oncologists, this book gathers insights from experts in the field and provides the most up-to-date information on all of the T-cell lymphoma subgroups and current and emerging therapies.

This book will cover primary roles of NKT cells in immunity to cancer, in both mouse tumor models and cancer patients. There are several chapters describing general aspects of NKT cells.

Over the last decade, major advances in our understanding of the immune system and its mechanisms have led to promising new treatment strategies. In Adoptive Immunotherapy: Methods and Protocols, leading experts describe in detail their optimal techniques for producing and characterizing the immunologically active cells and effector molecules now gaining wide use in the clinical treatment of patients. Taking advantage of the latest technologies, the authors present readily reproducible experimental protocols for the study of dendritic cells, T-cells, monoclonal antibodies, and bone marrow transplantation. The emphasis is on preclinicical and clinical applications and on the progress of selected approaches in clinical trials. Additional chapters cover the molecular definition of target antigens, mathematical modeling approaches to immonotherapy, and the utilization of regulatory T-cells. Theoretical overviews and discussion of future directions for the improvement of adoptive immunotherapy complete the volume. The protocols follow the successful Methods in Molecular Medicine series format, each offering step-by-step laboratory instructions, an introduction outlining the principle behind the technique, lists of the necessary equipment and reagents, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Comprehensive and state-of-the-art, Adoptive Immunotherapy: Methods and Protocols offers an authoritative collection of novel techniques to study the adoptive transfer of tailored antigen-specific immune cells and to improve their clinical application.

Recent advances in immunology and molecular biology have resulted in new therapeutic approaches being generated and implemented in cancer clinics. The discovery of new antigens, mechanisms of antigen presentation, and interplay of cells involved in anti-tumor immunity have made the clinical control of some cancers more plausible than previously tho

B cells used to be considered as a homogeneous population of cells destined to produce antibodies of increasing affinity and to maintain an immunological memory. In recent years, it has been determined that B cells can be subdivided into different subsets characterized by distinct morphologic, phenotypic, and functional features. Presenting results of research work on the definition of B cell subset populations, this book explains the basic mechanisms that control B cell activation, stimulation and regulation. Articles include studies on both normal and malignant B cells and describe the mechanisms underlying T-B cell interactions during the immune response. The most important advances in the field of immunodeficiency are also reported. This volume will be essential not only for basic and clinical immunologists, but also for hematologists, pathologists and rheumatologists with a special interest in the pathogenesis of lymphoproliferative or autoimmune disorders.

Sponsored by the National Cancer Institute (NIH)