The past two decades have seen an ever-accelerating growth in knowledge about molecular
pathology of human diseases which received a large boost with the sequencing of the human
genome in 2003. Molecular diagnostics molecular targeted therapy and genetic therapy are now
routine in many medical centers. The molecular field now impacts every field in medicine
whether clinical research or routine patient care. There is a great need for basic researchers
to understand the potential clinical implications of their research whereas private practice
clinicians of all types (general internal medicine and internal medicine specialists medical
oncologists radiation oncologists surgeons pediatricians family practitioners) clinical
investigators pathologists and medical laboratory directors and radiologists require a basic
understanding of the fundamentals of molecular pathogenesis diagnosis and treatment for their
patients. Traditional textbooks in molecular biology deal with basic science and are not
readily applicable to the medical setting. Most medical textbooks that include a mention of
molecular pathology in the clinical setting are limited in scope and assume that the reader
already has a working knowledge of the basic science of molecular biology. Other texts
emphasize technology and testing procedures without integrating the clinical perspective. There
is an urgent need for a text that fills the gap between basic science books and clinical
practice. In the Molecular Pathology Library series the basic science and the technology is
integrated with the medical perspective and clinical application. Each book in the series is
divided according to neoplastic and non-neoplastic diseases for each of the organ systems
traditionally associated with medical subspecialties. Each book in the series is organized to
provide specific application of molecular pathology to the pathogenesis diagnosis and
treatment of neoplastic and non-neoplastic diseases specific to each organ system. These broad
section topics are broken down into succinct chaptersto cover a very specific disease entity.
The chapters are written by established authorities on the specific topic from academic centers
around the world. In one book diverse subjects are included that the reader would have to
pursue from multiple sources in order to have a clear understanding of the molecular
pathogenesis diagnosis and treatment of specific diseases. Attempting to hunt for the full
information from basic concept to specific applications for a disease from varied sources is
time-consuming and frustrating. By providing this quick and user-friendly reference
understanding and application of this rapidly growing field is made more accessible to both
expert and generalist alike. As books that bridge the gap between basic science and clinical
understanding and practice the Molecular Pathology Series serves the basic scientist the
clinical researcher and the practicing physician or other health care provider who require more
understanding of the application of basic research to patient care from bench to bedside. This
series is unique and an invaluable resource to those who need to know about molecular pathology
from a clinical disease-oriented perspective. These books will be indispensable to physicians
and health care providers in multiple disciplines as noted above to residents and fellows in
these multiple disciplines as well as their teaching institutions and to researchers who
increasingly must justify the clinical implications of their research.
