Leukemia and lymphoma are cancers that affect white blood cells. There are several different types, each with different causes, symptoms, treatments, and survival rates. Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), for example, is the most common childhood cancer, but these diseases can occur in individuals of all ages.
Written and edited by experts in the field, this collection from
Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Medicine
covers our current understanding of the molecular underpinnings of leukemia and lymphoma, as well as recent progress in development of therapies that target them. The contributors review the normal functions of hematopoietic stem cells—the precursors to white blood cells—and then examine the genetic, epigenetic, and cellular mechanisms that drive malignant transformation. The roles of clonal hematopoiesis, RNA-binding proteins, and alterations in metabolism and cell signaling (e.g., MAP kinase pathways) are among the topics covered in depth, along with the parts they play in specific types of leukemia and lymphoma.
In addition, the authors discuss state-of-the-art preclinical models of leukemia and lymphoma, existing and prospective therapeutic strategies, and how technologies such as next-generation sequencing have accelerated progress in the field. This volume is therefore a vital reference for all cancer biologists and clinician-scientists concerned with defeating these diseases.