Cancer Chemotherapy: Cancer Chemotherapy and Biological Response Modifiers

Continuing in the tradition of the series, volume 14 covers the recent. major advances that have been made in the understanding of cancer biology, which have resulted in the development of both new classes of anti-cancer agents and new approaches to cancer treatment. The past year has witnessed varying developments, including: the interesting results produced from studies with differentiating agents, such as retinoids in acute promyolocytic leukaemia; the increase in the number of papers on new cytokines; attempts to combine IL2 with other biologicals and with cytotoxic agents in order to improve results; a better understanding between the sensitivity of hematologic malignancies and that of solid tumors; the new avenues to study dose effect relationships in cancer therapy offered by the hemopoetic growth factors GM-CSF and G-CSF- and the development of new cytotoxic ascents which interfere with newly discovered cellular pathways and mechanisms of action. Further, this year's chapters on tumors and supportive care offer many exciting new guidelines; and the chapter on the bleomycins gives excellent insight into the mechanism of pulmonary toxicity of this drug.