Modified Nucleosides and Cancer

This book comprises the lectures presented at the workshop Modified Nuc1eosides and Cancer held from 28 September to 2 October, 1981 in Freiburg, West Germany. The workshop was organized by Gisela Nass and sponsored by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft. The purpose of the workshop was to cover the varied analytical methods for quantitative and qualitative determination of modified nucleosides and their metabolism including bio- synthesis, all in relation to the function of these compounds in the origin and growth of cancer cells. The potential signi- ficance of measuring modified nucleosides in body fluids for tumor diagnosis in humans received particular attention. Various fields of research which have previously been segregat- ed are thus unified in this volume. Emphasis was also placed on the fact that modified nucleosides are constituents of the genetic material, the desoxyribonucleic > acid, on the one hand, and of the transfer ribonucleic acids on the other hand, with the latter macromolecules participating not only in the translation of genetic information into protein, but also in many regulatory processes in all single- and multi-, cellular organisms including man.