Book Reviews

Progress in Experimental Tumor Research. F. HOMBURGER, Editor. Vol. 13: Immunological Aspects of Neoplasia. R. S. SCHWARTZ, Editor. S. Kargen, Basel, 1970. $16.30 222 pp. Four authoritative and complementary reviews make up this volume of an important series. This review of reviews can only describe the scope of the material covered and so guide the potential reader to or away from the article concerned. F. M. Bunnet’s broad and dominating style is well expressed in “The Concept of Immunological Surveillance.” His thesis that malignant cells arising in the body are normally eliminated by an immune mechanism which recognizes their new antigenic determinants is now widely accepted. Clinical and experimental evidence for this mechanism and its possible path of evolution are documented in masterly fashion. It is a pity that the article was 2 years in publication, but this now allows the reader to evaluate many of the statements in the light of more recent (usually confirmatory) findings. The title of M. Schlesinger’s contribution (“How Cells Acquire Antigens”) may be a little misleading to virologists and some other specialists, since the review deals mainly with the appearance and disappearance of antigens in normal mammalian and avian cells. Nevertheless, within its field it is a complete and satisfying statement of antigenic changes (largely on the cell surface) caused by passive coating, genetic regulation, microenvironment, hormones and antibodies. The almost embarrassing variety and extent of the immunopathological changes reported in NZB mice have not deterred J. East from presenting a compelling and systematic account (“Immunopathology and Neoplasms in New Zealand Black (NZB) and SJL/J Mice”). The intricacies and interrelationships of these animals’ immunological aberrations, malignant changes and ubiquitous viruses are described in a way which does not overlook the still controversial nature of the phenomena. The remarkable analogies with human syndromes heighten the interest with which one reads this excellent review. The final review (“Lymphocyte Proliferation and Lymphoproliferative Disorders” by A. D. Rubin, L. I. Johnson and S. M. Brown) travels the tortuous path between the biochemistry of phytohemagglutinin action and lymphoreticular malignancies. Some of the many bridges successfully crossed on the way include lymphocyte proliferation in the immune response, nibosome biosynthesis, and diseases manifesting abnormal immunological activity. A unifying concept of immunoproliferative disorders is well presented. This book is attractively arranged and printed, with very few errors, and contains subject and title indexes to all volumes of the series. It is highly recommended. W. J. HALLIDAY