Brain cancer

Abstract

Brain cancer Prados, M Hamilton, Ontario, Canada: B.C. Decker Inc., 2002. Price: $199.00. Henry Friedman M.D.*, * Department of Surgery, Duke University, Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina. Neuro-oncology, unlike many of the other site specific malignancies observed in humans, encompasses an extraordinarily broad range of neoplasms. Accordingly, the diagnosis and treatment of patients with brain tumors requires a multidisciplinary approach encompassing expertise in neuropathology, surgery, radiation oncology, and medical pediatric oncology. Furthermore, the pace of the newer discoveries in oncology in general, and in neurooncology in particular, make it incumbent for neurooncologists to be aware of the advances in such areas as molecular genetics, neuroimaging, and novel clinical trials to provide cutting edge care to patients with brain tumors. Up-to-date resource material is always of interest in neurooncology. Brain Cancer represents a extremely welcome addition to the selection of textbooks currently available in the field of neurooncology. The editor, Dr. Michael Prados, is a senior and internationally respected authority in the diagnosis and treatment of adults and children with brain tumors. He has compiled a very experienced and senior group of contributors who have produced an outstanding monograph devoted to a broad range of topics in neurooncology. The organization of the monograph is superb. The chapters regarding the epidemiology, cancer pathology, and molecular genetics of tumors are carefully written and up-to-date. Additional chapters concerning the modalities of therapy, diagnostic techniques, design of clinical trials, and use of experimental chemotherapy are precisely and rigorously written. Finally, the management of a series of brain tumors is expertly written and appropriately divided into relevant sites and/or histologies. One of the frequent shortcomings of oncology monographs or textbooks is the quality of the illustrations. The illustrations included in this book are simply outstanding and the provision of a CD-ROM allowing readers to create slides is a major advance. I chose three different areas to examine in this book as a test of its contents and was pleased with the comprehensive nature of the sections devoted to these issues. Specifically, I wanted to learn if there would be appropriate descriptions of the role of O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase in mediating methylator resistance, the role of epidermal growth factor receptor in the growth and invasiveness of malignant glioma, and the use of different isotopes in positron emission tomography imaging. In each case, detailed information and up-to-date references were enclosed. Brain Cancer is a major addition to the current canon of monographs and textbooks devoted to neurooncology. I have no doubt it will be on the shelf of virtually all practicing neurooncologists as well as students, scientists, and educators in this field.