Overview

The rapid and continuous upsurge of interesting data in the subject of tumor immunology necessitates the publication of an annual series to furnish the updated materials to the students, researchers, and clinicians in this rapidly advancing field. Concepts and methodologies are ever changing. Also, current research in tumor immunology promises to offer breakthroughs in the future. Important is the need to communicate to the right people the exact role of immunodiagnostic methods and immunolog- ical intervention in cancer prevention and treatment. The role of immuno- therapy in combination with conventional modalities of treatment needs in its proper perspective. Oncogene, interferon, lympho- to be understood kines, monoclonal antibodies, natural killer cells, platelet-mediated cyto- toxicity of antibody-coated target cells, suppressor cells, platelet-derived factors, plasma-blocking factors, control of suppressor cell function, ab- rogation of plasma-blocking factors, etc., are some of the areas that are continually advancing. Progress in these areas will have implication in cancer therapy. Further, it is already understood that if immunocompe- tence of the host can be maintained at a reasonably good level, there exists the potential to increase the therapeutic indexes of conventional modalities of treatment. This series will attempt to present updated infor- mation in all these areas based on contributed and solicited articles. P. K.