Biological Mechanisms of Minimal Residual Disease and Systemic Cancer

This book focuses on the biological mechanisms of minimal residual disease (MRD) and recurrence. It integrates this biology in solid cancers and in hematological malignancies. It reports also on technological advancements for monitoring MRD, derived from mechanistic insights. Chapters in solid and hematological malignancies address stem cell biology, genetics, epigenetics and micro-environmental regulation of dormant MRD. Novel insight into technologies for molecular phenotyping of MRD and monitoring of CTCs, DTCs and cell free RNA and DNA are also addressed extensively. Five chapters explore the above concepts in solid cancers such as prostate, breast, melanoma, head and neck and esophageal. Two chapters also explore the basic mechanisms of vascular biology targeting and epigenetic mechanisms regulating pluripotency programs during dormancy. Similar biology is explored in hematological malignancies such as T-ALL, CML, AML and multiple myeloma in additional four chapters. This book is edited and prefaced by Dr. Julio Aguirre-Ghiso, an expert in dormancy and recurrence. The chapters are written by world-recognized experts Drs. Ravi Bahtia, Samir Parekh, Russel Taichman, Monica Guzman, David Hoon, Denis Schewe, Irmela Jeremias, Cyrus Ghajar, Maria Soledad Sosa and Nicholas Stoecklein. The topic of this book is of particular interest to both basic cancer cell biologists and physician scientists that are working to provide a more integrated view of the biology of MRD and to those interested in working on or learning about this paradigm. The integrated and cross-disciplinary focus of the book from biology to medicine seeks to help bridge gaps to improve cancer care and prevent recurrences.