Cancer Metastasis Through the Lymphovascular System

This textbook describes in detail the process of cancer metastasis from a single cell in the primary site through its arduous journey to the sentinel lymph node as the main gateway and beyond to distant sites. The most up-to-date knowledge on key topics in the molecular biology, diagnosis, and treatment of metastatic cancer is highlighted by a large panel of experts.

The book begins with a comprehensive overview of the genetic and molecular mechanisms that promote or inhibit cancer metastasis through lymphatic pathways to lymph nodes or through vascular pathways to distant sites, providing the reader with an essential basic knowledge. This is followed by further details on the role of the immune system within the primary tumor and the lymph node and the importance of the microenvironment at the metastatic site. The role of the sentinel lymph node in cancer metastasis is emphasized. Special attention is also given to state-of-the-art imaging techniques for the detection of early-stage cancer and cancer metastases, as well as the use of liquid biopsies in sarcoma, prostate, gastrointestinal, and lung cancer. Clinical patterns of malignant tumors arising in different organ systems are compared, described, and discussed with the goal of determining what similarities and/or differences exist. The book concludes with a detailed discussion of surgical intervention, radiation, and systemic therapy of primary and metastatic cancer, and briefly previews several emerging topics, such as the latest findings on personalized cancer therapy, cancer stem cells, unique molecular mechanisms of virus-induced cancer, the impact of the microbiome on cancer metastasis and the application of artificial intelligence in cancer metastasis research.

By providing fundamental knowledge of the biological and clinical aspects of cancer metastasis, this book will be an important reference for cancer researchers, clinical oncologists, teachers, and students. Written by experts in the field, each chapter includes a summary of the chapter’s key points and open-ended questions that address pressing issues in the field and encourage the reader to consider future directions. 

Stanley P. Leong is the Chief of the Cutaneous Oncology Department at the Melanoma Center of the California Pacific Medical Center and Senior Investigator of the California Pacific Medical Center Research Institute in San Francisco, California. He is also Emeritus Professor of Surgery at University of California, San Francisco. He has published several books on Cancer Metastasis with Springer and over 210 peer-reviewed publications. He is the current president of the Sentinel Node Oncology Foundation. Dr. Leong is co-organizer and co-chair of the International Congress on Cancer Metastasis taking place in San Francisco biannually since 2005.

S. David Nathanson is Professor of Surgical Oncology, Wayne State University, and the Chair of Breast Cancer Research at the Henry Ford Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan. Besides his activities as surgical oncologist, Dr. Nathanson teaches medical students, residents, fellows, nurses, physician assistants and laboratory scientists at his institute, and he is actively involved in translational research into the mechanisms of lymph node metastasis. He is author of numerous research articles and book chapters on metastasis and three books.

Jonathan S. Zager is the Chief Academic Officer at Moffitt Cancer Center and Senior Member and Director of Regional Therapies in the Department of Cutaneous Oncology at Moffitt. Dr. Zager is also the Chair of the Department of Oncologic Sciences and Professor of Surgery at the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine. Dr. Zager has published over 300 peer reviewed articles, invited reviews, and book chapters. He is the editor on three textbooks. Dr. Zager has given over 400 podium presentations, invited talks, keynote lectures, and poster presentations. He is co-organizer and co-chair of the Biannual International Congress on Cancer Metastasis.