This volume represents a collection of contributions from the 6th International Conference on Eicosanoids and Other Bioactive Lipids in Cancer, Inflammation, and Related Diseases held in Boston from September 12-15, 1999. The mission of this meeting was to bring together senior and junior investigators to both announce and examine their recent advancements in cutting-edge research on the roles and actions of lipid mediators and their impact in human physiology and disease pathogenesis. The meeting focused on new concepts in these areas of interest to both clinicians and researchers. The program included several outstanding plenary lectures and presentations by leading experts in the fields of cancer and inflammation. In addition, the Boston meeting presented three Young Investigator awards, one in each of the major focus areas. The meeting was exciting and proved to be very memorable. The program was developed with an emphasis on recent advances in molecular and of lipid mediators relevant in cellular mechanisims involved in the formation and actions inflammation and cancer. Plenary lectures were presented by Prof. Bengt Sammuelsson (Karolinska Institute, Stockholm; 1982 Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine) and Prof. E. 1. Corey (Harvard University; 1990 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry). Both of these plenary lectures were held on Day 1, which set an exciting tone for this meeting. Immediately following these plenary lectures, three simultaneous breakout sessions were held, one of inflammation, a second on cancer and synthesis of novel inhibitors, and a third on enzymes-lipoxygenases/cyclooxygenases and inhibitors.

Over one hundred contributions detail advances in the molecular and cellular biology of eicosanoid production, as well as their role in signal transduction. One of the most exciting developments explored within this collection of articles is the expression of the novel isoform of cyclooxygenase (cox-2), which may play a large role in the development of anti-inflammatory drugs.

Proceedings of the Fourth International Conference held in Hong Kong, October 4-7, 1995

This book contains conference presentations regarding the regulation of eicosanoid enzymes and, in particular, cyclooxygenases, lipoxygenases, and phospholipases. The new field of isoprostanes is also represented.

In recent decades eicosanoids have been attracting an increasing amount of attention as a result of their important physiological roles in many areas of biology and medicine. The eicosanoids comprise the prostaglandins, thromboxanes and leukotrienes and are products of arachidonic acid, an essential polyunsaturated fatty acid stored in tissue phospholipids. Disturbances of eicosanoids and their metabolic products play a regulatory role in many types of cell injuries and diseases. One of the most exciting areas of eicosanoid research pinpoints their participation in the control of cell proliferation and differentiation. Eicosanoids form a link between different fields of research into such areas as cancer, inflammation and radiation-induced injury. This link provided the impetus for the development of the conference series of which the present volume represents the proceedings of the Second International Conference, held in Berlin in October 1991.

This volume contains the proceedings of the First International Conference on Eicosanoids and Other Bioactive Lipids in Cancer and Radiation Injury held in Detroit, Michigan on October 11-14, 1989. The program consisted of 83 oral and 29 poster presentations, 74 of which are included in these proceedings. The major sponsors of the conference were the Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute, located in Bethesda, Maryland, the Radiation Oncology Research and Development Center of the Gershenson Radiation Oncology Center, Harper Hospital in Detroit, Michigan, and Schering AG of West Germany. Eighteen other organizations provided additional support. The conference was unique in its attempt to link the eicosanoid and lipid researchers in the radiobiology and cancer disciplines. The diverse roles that eicosanoids and other bioactive lipids play in these biological phenomena including the participation of lipid oxidation in conversion of procarcinogens, positive and negative modulation of tumor growth, immunomodulation, tissue injury, and yet protection and enhancement of cancer therapy, necessitated scientific interaction to sort out and understand these complex and sometimes contradictory observations. The success of this effort is reflected not only through these proceedings, but also through the decision to continue the conference series with a second meeting to be held in Berlin between September 17-21, 1991.

Causes and Control of Colorectal Cancer: A Model for Cancer Prevention is a ground- breaking monograph which takes a global, multidisciplinary approach to the causes, carcinogenesis and control of colorectal cancer. Over 1000 key studies were analyzed on colorectal cancer cause, carcinogenesis, primary prevention, early detection using modern screening techniques, and surveillance after tumor excision. All major research results are included up to the date of publication. The key chapters include those on morphology, molecular biology and evolution of tumors, etiology chapters on heredity, diet, alcohol, smoking, physical activity, life stress and others, while major chapters in the area of colorectal cancer control are on primary prevention, early detection by screening and surveillance, and post-tumor excision surveillance. Important recommendations on primary prevention, screening and surveillance of colorectal tumors are made in keeping with the most current research data. Causes and Control of Colorectal Cancer: A Model for Cancer Prevention takes colorectal cancer control into the 21st century, and suggests this to be the first cancer in which control will be largely achieved within the next generation, as a result of the unprecedented multidisciplinary research into causation, primary prevention, screening and surveillance over the past 30 years. The book also serves as a model for the control of other common malignancies, particularly cancers of the breast and prostate, the causes and prevention of which are less well understood.

First multi-year cumulation covers six years: 1965-70.

Dietary Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Cancer provides all the latest information on the possible benefits of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) against a wide series of cancers. Several influential scientists in this field have contributed to make this book unique amongst the others published so far in this field. The chapters give detailed information about the results obtained in this field through experimental studies conducted on both animals and cultured cells, as well as through human intervention trials and epidemiological observational studies. This book represents an important tool for researchers working in nutrition and oncology, since it collects all the knowledge about omega-3 PUFAs and cancer, even the most recent, in a single publication. For the first time controversies among the different studies are also covered with great detail in this book. The book enables physicians to clearly understand on a scientific basis if their oncologic patients or patients at risk of cancer could actually benefit from a diet enriched in omega-3 PUFAs or from a dietary supplementation with these fatty acids. The book represents also a good resource for ordinary individuals as well as cancer patients to learn more about omega-3 PUFAs and understand how these dietary components may affect cancer growth.