Abstract:

A comprehensive guide for both scientists and clinicians to recent advances in our understanding of the cellular and molecular processes involved in the initiation, progression, and clinical and biological behavior of brain tumors. The authors review the latest findings on the molecular biology, genetics, epidemiology, and pathology of brain tumors, detailing new knowledge about molecular profiling, molecular pathology and classification, in vitro and in vivo brain tumor models, brain metastasis, and progenitor cell biology. They also discuss in depth the cellular and genetic pathways involved in brain oncogenesis, malignant progression, and therapeutic response, highlighting oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes, DNA damage and repair, invasion and migration, cell cycle, growth factors, signaling, apoptosis, and developmental biology. The discussion of brain tumor therapy focuses on advances in pharmacological thinking, therapeutic modalities, novel therapeutic targets, rational drug design, gene and viral therapies, drug delivery and the blood-brain barrier, immunotherapy, and brain imaging.