Cell Adhesion Molecules in Cancer and Inflammation, the first volume in the Cell Adhesion and Communication book series, provides an up-to-date summary of the clinical applications of adhesion molecule research, focusing on the role played by adhesion molecules (integrins, cadherins, CEA, selectins and CD44) in inflammation and neoplasia. In this book emphasis will be on the clinical evaluation of these molecules particularly as novel biochemical and genetic markers to define tumour differentiation based on functional and morphological assessment as well as their potential use as targets for biological therapy. More than fifteen years have passed since the first definitive demonstration of functional activities mediating cell-matrix as well as cell-cell interactions. Since that time there has been increased interest in this subject since it became obvious that these interactions are key elements in the regulation of morphogenesis and tissue physiology and are disrupted in a variety of disease processes such as neoplasia and inflammation.
A number of cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesion molecules have been identified and their structure, molecular genetics and biochemistry have been elucidated, and their normal function is beginning to be understood. However, the next challenge will be the clinical exploitation of adhesion molecules in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases.