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Cancer. Principles & practice of oncology (6th edn). Ed. by V T DeVita Jr, S Hellman and S A Rosenburg, pp. lxxii+3235, 2001 (Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia, PA), $235.00 ISBN 0-781-72229-2

The sixth edition of this classic oncology text has been thoroughly revised and updated. It has over 300 contributors to 65 chapters, with over 3200 pages. This edition places increased emphasis on the role of molecular biology in cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Part 1 covers the essentials of modern oncological science and includes instructive essays on the basic principles of cancer biology, genomics, signal transduction and immunology. Especially helpful are the descriptions of recent technologies that are beginning to have an impact on clinical practice, such as molecular profiling, micro-arrays, cancer genomics and proteomics.

Part 2 concentrates on the principles of oncology and covers the cell pathology of cancer, epidemiology and the principles of anti-cancer therapies in detail. I was particularly taken by the chapters describing new radiotherapy techniques, such as intensity modulated radiation therapy, and innovative surgical techniques, such as radio-frequency ablation of tumours, isolatio perfusion for visceral cancers, and image guided surgery. In light of the growing clinical importance of biological therapy, a new section on pharmacology of cancer biotherapeutics has been added.

Part 3 is the largest single component and follows the successful format of previous editions by covering each tumour site stage-by-stage and discussing the management of each clinical situation and the role of each treatment modality. This remains the main strength of this book and, in this regard, it is more readable than its European competitor, The Oxford Textbook of Oncology. The assessment of the clinical literature is considered and the authors report the results of UK and European research studies with more credence than in other American texts. Rehabilitation is integrated into each of this edition's chapters on organspecific cancers. Also included are new chapters on information systems in oncology, particularly on accessing information from the World Wide Web.

Part 4 looks ahead at newer approaches to cancer treatments including gene therapy, cancer vaccines, image guided surgery and proton therapy.

This edition now includes a CD-ROM bound into the book, which saves lugging around 5 kg of text! The CD-ROM has advanced search capabilities and provides full text, high-quality video and colour slides not found in the book. References provide a direct link to PubMed and links to a new oncology portal, LWWoncology.com. The CD-ROM is available separately.

This 6th edition amounts to a one-volume encyclopedia of basic and clinical research on the complex disease we call cancer, as well as an exhaustive analysis of the various clinical entities. Inevitably some components become out of date very quickly as research findings and clinical discoveries seem to change almost daily. As a guide to clinical management of rare and common cancers, this book fulfils an important role for practicing oncologists. It is readable, well indexed and comprehensive, allowing clinicians to quickly dip into its pages and access required clinical information. Well done to the editors for producing yet another excellent edition.

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