Main description:

This monograph explains the considerable impact that monoclonal antibodies and molecular probes have had on the diagnosis of tumor types and sub-types. It explains how radiolabelled monoclonal antibodies have also been used as imaging agents to try to improve the oncologist's ability to define residual tumor deposits after combination chemo/radiotherapy. Finally, the childhood malignancies that still have a poor prognosis are presented, and new novel ways of therapy are explained.

Contents:

1. Pathology and Epidemiology 2. Monoclonal Antibodies used for Diagnosis of Small Round Cell Tumors of Childhood 3. An Immunohistological Approach to Differential Diagnosis of Childhood Brain Tumors 4. Serologic Studies using Monoclonal and Polyclonal Antibodies - Their Diagnostic and Prognostic Usefulness 5. Ganglioside GD2 Specific Antibodies in the Diagnosis and Therapy of Human Neuroblastoma 6. The Development of Targeted Radiotherapy for Treatment of Small Round Cell Tumors of Childhood 7. Monoclonal Antibodies as Agents to Purge Tumor Cells from Bone Marrow: Laboratory and Clinical Experiences 8. Molecular Approaches Toward the Isolation of Pediatric Cancer Predisposition Genes 9. Gene Rearrangement in Leukemias and Lymphomas 10. The N-Myc Oncogene in Pediatric Tumors: Diagnostic, Prognostic, and Biological Aspects