From Bench to Bedside

In this special double issue, we have selected articles covering a broad range of issues in oncology, from the bench to the bedside. Research on DNA methylation is an exciting area in tumourigenesis research that holds good prospects for gene therapy. A succinct review of the current status of cancer epigenetics research and its clinical applications has been provided by Dr JG Herman.

The report by Mok et al on the use of oral tegafur and uracil as adjuvant treatment for colorectal cancer addresses the growing interest in using oral agents for therapy of colorectal cancer. Also of interest is the availability of thrombopoietin, the biology and clinical applications of which are reviewed by Pavithran and Doval.

Cancer of the cervix has been a model of multi-faceted oncological interest, from both the tumourigenesis and therapeutic viewpoints. In this issue, Devaja et al review the role of human papillomavirus infection in carcinogenesis, and the potential therapeutic implications. For patients with more advanced-stage cancer at diagnosis, despite the improved treatment results with combined chemotherapy and radiation therapy, an appreciable number of patients would still have local recurrent cancer. The article by Papadopoulos et al examines the impact of surgical salvage after radiation failures.

We have also selected a series of ASCO conference papers on adjuvant therapy for breast cancer, which provides an updated confirmation on the prognosticators and therapeutic strategies of this important cancer.

SF Leung
Associate Professor
Department of Clinical Oncology
Prince of Wales Hospital
Hong Kong
China