Textbook of Medical Oncology PDF

Preface to the Fourth Edition

Since the publication of our third edition in 2004, we have seen an exciting acceleration in the pace of developments in medical oncology. Increasingly, we are building on the achievements of our mentors with conventional chemotherapy, to move into the new era of targeted systemic treatment. For this reason, we considered that the time could not be better for us to produce a fourth edition of our textbook.

We are delighted to welcome two new editors, Martine Piccart and James Armitage. They bring a wealth of expertise and experience across a range of clinical areas, including solid tumors and hematological malignancies. In addition, their key roles in European and US oncology help strengthen the global appeal and relevance of this edition.

We have undertaken an extensive revision of the third edition and therefore also welcome eight new authors. Drs. Muggia, Verweij, Blay, Bloomfield, Palumbo, Razavi, Stupp, Eggermont, and Eccles are all acknowledged experts in their respective fields, and we are most grateful for their input. As in the previous years, we are most pleased to enlist the help of young coworkers and extend our thanks to them for their enthusiasm. We see this generation as vital to the future of our specialty worldwide.

Our priority in this edition has been to reflect both the multidisciplinary nature of modern cancer treatment and the growing trend in systemic cancer therapy to bridge the gap between our improved understanding of the molecular basis of cancer and rational targeted treatment. Clearly, there is a long road to travel, but the trend toward cancer biomarker–driven "personalized" treatment is firmly on its way. At the same time, we have been determined not to neglect the chapters relating to overall patient care, recognizing the challenge that continues to face us, our patients, and their families.

We hope that this edition will be helpful to a range of individuals involved in medical oncology, particularly trainees as well as those involved in translational research. We welcome comments; these are crucial for planning future editions.