HEMATOLOGICAL ONCOLOGY, VOL. 3,217-218 (1985)

BOOK REVIEWS

BONE MARROW BIOPSIES REVISITED, R. Bartl, B. Frisch and R. Burkhardt, S. Karger AG, Basel, 1984. xiv+ 138 pp. incl. index. Price: E31.59. ISBN 3 8055 3937 1.

This is the second edition of an account of the authors’ personal experience of over 2000 bone marrow biopsies from patients with haematological malignancies, using undecalcified resin-embedded thin histological sections, recently supplemented by immunohistochemical techniques. Chapters cover normal marrow, myeloproliferative dis- orders, adult acute leukaemia, multiple myeloma, non Hodgkins lymphoma and Hodgkins disease.

Each chapter has a brief literature survey fol- lowed by the authors’ observations. These include some histological description, but concentrate on the prognostic value of pathological observations based on up to 10 years’ follow-up. Suggestions are then made for classifications, and on impli- cations for clinical practice. Childhood leukaemias

and lymphomas are not covered. The text is extra- ordinarily lucid and concise, with a clarity superior to that of many English writers. The photomicro- graphs are of high quality, and a useful feature is the topographical illustrations of patterns of disease within the marrow space.

This is not principally a bench handbook for diagnosis, but an interesting view of bone marrow biopsy in haepatological malignancy, both for morphologists (histopathologists and haematologists), and clinicians with its prognostic analyses. Not everyone is using plastic sections or obtaining such technically good results, but this is a stimulating, interesting and well-produced little book which can be recommended to all who are clinically involved in this area.

CYRIL FISHER Consultant Histopathologist,

The Royal Marsden Hospital, Fulham Road,

London S W3 6JJ

LEUKAEMIA AND LYMPHOMA RESEARCH VOLUME 1, MECHANISMS OF VIRAL LEUKAEMOGENESIS, J. M. Goldman and 0. Jarrett (Eds), Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh, London, Melbourne and New York, 1984. x+268 pp. incl. index. Price: E35. ISBN 0 443 02902 4.

Mechanisms of Viral Leukaemogenesis represents the first volume in what is intended to be an annual series of reviews based around the Leukaemia Research Fund’s Annual Guest Lecture. The choice of Dr Robert Gallo as the guest speaker in 1982 reflected not only the significant and exciting advances of his own laboratory (reviewed at breath- taking pace in Chapter 2) but also the growing awareness in the field that the two major paths of leukaemia virus research, namely the role of viruses as aetiological agents and the exploitation of viruses to probe the underlying molecular basis of neoplasia, are beginning to converge. An attempt to review and bridge these two avenues of research for the benefit of a wide readersh ip ‘including not only those already involved in research in some aspect of leukaemia but also haematolQgists and clinicians in practice, doctors and scientists in training and perhaps also medical

0 1985 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

students’-is a commendable enterprise. Indeed, Goldman and Jarrett are to be congratulated for their choice of material which for once encom- passes both RNA and DNA viruses, and the impressive list of contributors. Unfortunately, by the standards that they themselves have set, the finished product is something of a disappointment. Like almost ail multi-author reviews the result is not a cohesive blend of contemporary views but rather a pot-pourri whose ingredients vary con- siderably in quality and impact. Such problems are inherent in any venture of this kind and can con- found even the most influential and conscientious of editors. While several of the individual chapters are admirable, too few of them focus on actual mechanisms and attempt to promote unifying theories. There is a marked preponderance of descriptive pathology and cataloguing of details, with little attempt to sort out the wood from the trees. Indeed, in some cases the trees have merged into a veritable jungle (notably the chapter on murine leukaemia viruses) which even the most experienced explorer would have difficulty in negotiating. Woe betide the intrepid amateur who sets out without a map. In this regard, it might have helped considerably if the editors had pro-

218 BOOK REVIEWS

vided or commissioned a chapter which simply introduced the general features of the structure and life-cycle of the relevant virus families, or even better tried to summarise and interconnect the many, disparate pieces of information to be found sprinkled throughout the book. In short, while I am sure that the seasoned researcher would find most of the individual chapters useful, par- ticularly in terms of reviewing topics in which they may be interested but not actively involved, I

suspect that the curious student or outsider would find the book unapproachable or at best very heavy going.

GORDON PETERS Imperial Cancer Research Fund Laboratories,

St Bartholomew's Hospital, Dominion House,

Bartholomew Close, London ECI A 7BE

GROWTH AND MATURATTON FACTORS, VOLUME 2, G. Guroff (Ed.), John Wiley & Sons, Chichester, 1984. xiii + 340 pp. incl. index. Price: f66. ISBN 0 471 09708 X.

In the series preface the editor presents his aim as being the creation of a series of volumes presenting the unfolding information in the field of growth factor research from several points of view. The content of this volume immediately impresses upon one just how diverse is this area of research: the reviews here cover eight different types of growth-promoting factor from erythro- poietin to milk growth factors. Having covered some of the best-studied growth factors in some detail in Volume 1 (for example, Nerve Growth Factor, Epidermal Growth Factor, Platelet- Derived Growth Factor) this volume would appear to have diversified to some of the less studied but equally interesting aspects of this flourishing field. The chapters on Prostaglandins, on Sciatin and on Angiogenesis factors make brave attempts to clarify often convoluted subjects for

those not closely familiar with them; however, they may prove unrewarding reading for those lacking any specialist interest in them. By contrast the chapters on T-cell growth factor, on insulin and, of particular interest to haematologists, on Erythro- poietin and on Erythroid-Potentiating Activity provide clear yet fairly detailed and largely up to date over-views of these growth factors. The chap- ter on milk growth factors is interesting, if as yet something of a side line, and the volume is con- cluded with a very useful discussion of methods for affinity-labelled receptors.

In general this volume will be rewarding both to those working within the field (assuming a certain broadmindedness) and to those with only a passing interest in it. Future volumes are eagerly awaited.

JULIAN DOWNWARD Department of Protein Chemistry,

Imperial Cancer Research Fund Laboratories, P.O. Box No. 123,

Lincoln's Inn Fields, London WC2A 3PX