This book summarizes current knowledge on the identification of tumor hypoxia, its systematic characterization and the assessment of its clinical relevance, covering aspects ranging from molecular biology through to the clinical situation. The first contributions summarize the clinical experience gained at a number of medical centers worldwide in the measurement of tumor oxygenation in a range of frequently occurring tumor entities, providing important information concern-ing the clinical implications of this aspect of tumor pathophysiology in terms of therapy outcome. Ways in which tumor oxygenation might be manipulated are considered, with particular focus on the impact of erythropoietin treatment of anemia on tumor hypoxia and therapeutic efficacy. Finally, a relatively new aspect of tumor hypoxia is discussed, namely the role that it may play in malignant progression. By providing an overview of our current knowledge concerning tumor oxygenation, this book should stimulate further research in this area, which may in future create new therapeutic perspectives for the treatment of cancer.
