The first
edition of this book, published in 1985 was a testimony to the dramatic
molecular revolution that was taking place in biology and consequently in
cancer research at that time. The book evolved from a series of introductory
lectures developed to help new students and research fellows that came to work
at the Imperial Cancer Research Fund Laboratories in London to assimilate the
rapidly evolving body of knowledge on cancer. These popular talks were designed
to give the non-expert a background to related areas of research and were
given by experts
from within the Imperial Cancer Research Fund, many of whom subsequently
contributed chapters to the first edition of the book.
Twenty years
later, the need for a comprehensive introduction to this broad field is even
more apparent and the
introductory lectures at what is now the Cancer Research UK London Research Institute
continue and are as popular as ever. Today, laboratory science has begun to
have a real impact on clinical medicine and it is of utmost importance that
scientists have not only a broad view of laboratory cancer research but also a
good understanding of the most up to date treatment options. Similarly, it is
essential that clinicians treating the various types of neoplastic disease are aware
of developments in basic science and can apply these appropriately. It is our
view that only when determined attempts to bridge the gap between the
laboratory and clinic are made by both clinicians and scientists that rapid
translation will take place. Our objective has been to facilitate acquisition
of basic information on all aspects of cancer research to facilitate this
process.
