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Current Concepts and Treatment of Langerhans’ Cell Histiocytosis

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Cancer in Children

Part of the book series: UICC International Union Against Cancer ((1360))

Abstract

Histiocytosis is a general term used to indicate several pathological disorders of the reticuloendothelial system. Cells of this system have been classified as the mononuclear phagocytic system because of their common origin and function. These cells all originate from the pro-monocyte in the bone marrow and give rise to two different cell lineages. One cell line (the antigen-processing) includes the peripheral monocyte which, in turn, gives rise to the tissue macrophage (histiocyte). The other cell line (the antigen-presenting) is referred to as the dendritic cell population and is generally not phagocytic. These antigen-presenting cells are divided into three well-defined, although not fully characterized, subsets: dendritic reticulum cells, interdigitating reticulum cells and Langerhans’ cells [1]. Table 1 summarizes characteristics of the Langerhans cell and other cell systems of the mononuclear phagocytic system. The dendritic cell line is intimately involved with the thymus-dependent regions of the body. These cells are powerful stimulators of mixed lymphocyte response. Each disorder in the histiocytosis syndromes is viewed as resulting from a reactive or neoplastic proliferation of cells similar, if not identical, to one of these cell types. The cells of the mononuclear phagocytic system constitute an important defence system in the body against infections and foreign particulate matter, as well as being an important cellular component of the afferent limb of the immune response.

This research was supported by PHS grant CA-07306 and the Children’s Cancer Research Fund of the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. R.M.E. is supported by the Ter Meulen Fonds, Royal Academy of Arts and Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

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Authors
  1. R. M. Egeler
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  2. M. E. Nesbit Jr.
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Paediatric Oncology, Emma Kinderziekenhuis, Div. of Paediatrics Academic Medical Center, Meibergdreef 9, rm F8-239, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    P. A. Voûte

  2. Department of Radiation Oncology, Beatson Oncology Centre, Western Infirmary, G11 6NT, Glasgow, UK

    Ann Barrett

  3. Service de Pédiatrie, Institut Gustave Roussy, Rue Camille Desmoulins, F-94805, Villejuif Cedex, France

    Jean Lemerle

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© 1992 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Egeler, R.M., Nesbit, M.E. (1992). Current Concepts and Treatment of Langerhans’ Cell Histiocytosis. In: Voûte, P.A., Barrett, A., Lemerle, J. (eds) Cancer in Children. UICC International Union Against Cancer. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-84722-6_15

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-84722-6_15

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-84724-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-84722-6

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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