This volume will bring together a review of research being carried out by international experts in this field, detailing treatment and research approaches in several forms of malignant brain tumors. These include glioblastoma (GBM), a highly aggressive and fatal form of astrocytoma which accounts for 80% of newly diagnosed brain tumor patients per year, and meningioma, of which 10% are malignant and extremely resistant to targeted therapies. The volume will also include a discussion of methods to overcome blood-brain barrier exclusion for more efficient targeted drug delivery in all forms of brain cancer treatment. The volume will include information on the repurposing of drugs in an attempt to circumvent drug resistance, use of small molecule inhibitors in GBM treatment, mechanisms of secondary brain metastasis, drug resistance, and state-of-the-art imaging of targeted therapies.

New Targeting in The Reversal of Resistant Glioblastomas discusses alternative treatment strategies that not only target tumor cells but also target the tumor microenvironment, metabolic pathways and interaction of cytokines in tumor cells. The current treatment for primary and recurrent glioblastomas is failing because clinicians are not considering the effect of bone marrow derived cells to the development of resistance to clinically practiced therapies. This book helps readers rethink treatment strategies to successfully fight glioblastomas. It is a valuable resource for cancer researchers, clinicians, graduate students and other members of the biomedical field. - Explains the effect of bone marrow derived cells on the development of resistance to clinically practiced therapies - Provides information on the availability of alternate therapies for recurrent glioblastoma when standard practices have failed - Discusses targeting tumor microenvironment using available FDA approved drugs as an alternative treatment strategy for glioblastoma

This book represents an up-dated summary of the state of the art of the characterization of cancer stem cell/ cancer initiating cell (CSC/CIC) properties. An overview of the definition and biological properties of CSCs/CICs as well as the role of these cells in determining the resistance to standard and immune-based therapies is provided. It also discusses limitations in the achievement of a definitive biological characterization of CSCs/CICs due to their high extent of plasticity and heterogeneity that is also mutually driven by the interaction of these cells with the tumor microenvironment. The limitations in targeting CSCs/CICs with immunotherapy are also explained together with explorative combination approaches that could increase the susceptibility of these cells to the recognition by immune cells. This book is conceived for a broad audience, including students, teachers, scientific experts. The critical revision of available results in terms of immunological profile of CSCs/CICs and the efficacy in targeting these cells by immunological approaches, results in a comprehensive and up to date recapitulation of the field and provides interesting suggestions on how to focus future investigations in order to assess the role of CSCs/CICs as prognostic and predictive biomarkers of responsiveness to therapies for cancer patients.

Targeted therapies were initially developed to exploit the upregulation and dependence on key oncogenic pathways critical to cancer progression. Additionally, they also presented as a method to overcome chemoresistance by supplementing conventional therapeutic regimens with targeted therapies. However, the development of resistance to these combinatorial approaches has led to the reassessment of currently available therapeutic options to overcome resistance to targeted therapy. This book aims to provide an update on the advancements in the therapeutic arms race between cancer, clinicians and scientists alike to overcome resistance to targeted therapies. Subject experts provide a comprehensive overview of the challenges and solutions to resistance to several conventional targeted therapies in addition to providing a discussion on broad topics including targeting components of the tumor microenvironment, emerging therapeutic options, and novel areas to be explored concerning nanotechnology and the epigenome.

A dramatic increase in knowledge regarding the molecular biology of brain tumors has been established over the past few years, and this has lead to the development of novel therapeutic strategies for these patients. In this book a review of the options available for the clinical management of patients with these tumors are outlined. In addition advances in radiology both for pre-operative diagnostic purposes along with surgical planning are described. Furthermore a review of newer developments in chemotherapy along with the evolving field of photodynamic therapy both for intra-operative management and subsequent therapy is provided. A discussion of certain surgical management issues along with tumor induced epilepsy is included. Finally a discussion of the management of certain unique problems including brain metastases, brainstem glioma, central nervous system lymphoma along with issues involving patients with a brain tumor and pregnancy is provided.

Handbook of Brain Tumor Chemotherapy, Molecular Therapeutics, and Immunotherapy, Second Edition, provides a comprehensive overview of the molecular methodologies in the neuro-oncology field. There have been profound changes in the landscape of approaches to brain tumor therapy since the first edition—mainly in the areas of molecular biology and molecular therapeutics, as well as in the maturation of immunotherapy approaches (e.g., vaccines). This updated edition has a new, primary focus on multidisciplinary molecular methods, and is broadened to include the latest cutting-edge molecular biology, therapeutics, immunobiology and immunotherapy approaches. As the first comprehensive book to address the molecular research into these concepts, users will find it to be an invaluable resource on the topics discussed. - Provides the most up-to-date information regarding conventional forms of cytotoxic chemotherapy, as well as the basic science and clinical application of molecular therapeutics for the treatment of brain tumors - Broadly appeals to anyone interested in neuro-oncology and the treatment of brain tumors - Features updated chapters on molecular biology, molecular therapeutics, maturation of immunotherapy approaches, and a focus on multidisciplinary molecular methods - Includes a new section on the basic science of immunology, as well as thorough updates on the use of vaccine technology and immunotherapy for the treatment of brain tumors

Oligodendroglioma: Clinical Presentation, Pathology, Molecular Biology, Imaging, and Treatment features the latest "cutting-edge" molecular biology, molecular therapeutics, imaging, immunotherapy, and research methods on the topic of oligodendrogliomas. The most detailed and comprehensive resource on the subject, it provides up-to-date information on clinical presentation, pathology, molecular biology, and treatment methods, including immunotherapy. This book is a critical for students, physicians and researchers in the fields of neuroscience, neuro-oncology, neurosurgery, radiation oncology, medical oncology, and others working in research or with patients. Provides the most up-to-date information regarding the clinical presentation, pathology, molecular biology, and methods for the treatment of oligodendroglioma brain tumors, including surgical therapy, radiotherapy, molecular therapeutics, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy Broadly appeals to anyone interested in the field of neuro-oncology and the treatment of patients with oligodendrogliomas Useful to clinicians interested in a thorough overview of the basic science and treatment of oligodendrogliomas Includes a section on immunotherapy, with updates on the use of vaccines and immune-based treatment approaches applied to oligodendrogliomas

This book aims to educate nurses and advanced practice providers (APP’s) about known mutations, availability of targeted therapy and the management of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). It will educate nurses and practitioners about the scope of therapy to assure safe and effective lung cancer treatment. In this era of personalized medicine, nurses and APP’s are responsible for guiding patients from diagnosis through treatment. This starts with the identification of patients that can benefit from these therapies, the key role of biopsy acquisition (ie. what to test, when and how often) and treatment selection based on the mutation identified. Readers will learn about the mechanisms of action, administration, potential adverse side effects and unique management strategies for these targeted agents. Lung cancer continues to be the leading cause of cancer death in the United States and worldwide. Recent advances in the identification of specific oncogenic mutations that drive cancer development, growth and metastasis have led to major paradigm shifts in lung cancer treatment. Sophisticated methods are required to identify specific mutations at the time of diagnosis. This book explains how molecularly targeted therapies have been developed that target these drivers. To date, several tyrosine kinase inhibitors have been approved to target the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), EML4-ALK ,ROS1 and BRAF. Most recently, immune checkpoint inhibitors have been approved with some indication that efficacy may be enhanced for patients who overexpress PD-L1. While some driver mutations have been identified, there is ongoing investigation into additional mutations. In the case of driver mutations, lung cancers will develop resistance to therapy. This book provides nurses and APP’s with the mechanisms of resistance that have been identified such as T790 mutation and many others in the EGFR mutation, and shows how the next level of drug development is focused on identifying mechanisms of resistance and development of new agents that overcome these mutations. With this book in hand, nurses and practitioners will be able to navigate patients through this ever expanding field of lung cancer treatment.