●DNA-microarray analysis of brain cancer: molecular classification for therapy. Mischel, P. S., Cloughesy, T. F. & Nelson, S. F. Nature Reviews Neuroscience October (2004)

●Polyamines and cancer: old molecules, new understanding. Gerner, E. W. & Meyskens, F. L. Nature Reviews Cancer October (2004) A review of the clinical trials that are now underway to evaluate inhibition of polyamine synthesis as a potent cancer chemoprevention strategy in a range of tissues.

●Gene therapy for autoimmune diseases: quo vadis? Chernajovsky, Y., Gould, D. J. & Podhajcer, O. L. Nature Reviews Immunology October (2004) This review article summarizes various gene-therapy approaches for treating autoimmune diseases, with a particular focus on multiple sclerosis, diabetes type 1 and rheumatoid arthritis.

●High interstitial fluid pressure — an obstacle in cancer therapy. Heldin, C.-H., Rubin, K., Pietras, K. & Östman, A. Nature Reviews Cancer October (2004) Interstitial fluid pressure in tumours causes difficulties for tumour treatment. Lowering this pressure with signal-transduction antagonists is discussed as a useful approach for improving anticancer drug efficacy.

●A vision for the National Cancer Program in the United States. von Eschenbach, A. C. Nature Reviews Cancer October (2004) Advances in understanding cancer since the US National Cancer Act in 1971 and the goals of the National Cancer Institute to capitalize on these achievements are outlined.

●Raising the profile of genetics in primary care. Qureshi, N., Modell, B. & Modell, M. Nature Reviews Genetics October (2004)

●From lethal virus to life-saving vaccine: developing inactivated vaccines for pandemic influenza. Wood, J. M. & Robertson, J. S. Nature Reviews Microbiology October (2004)

●Diagnosing prion diseases: needs, challenges and hopes. Soto, C. Nature Reviews Microbiology October (2004)

●Focus on systems biology.Nature Biotechnology October (2004) Articles include:

●The impact of systems approaches on biological problems in drug discovery. Hood, L. & Perlmutter, R. M.

●Can complexity be commercialized? Mack, G. S.

●Systems biology in drug discovery. Butcher, E. C., Berg, E. L. & Kunkel, E. J.

●The challenges of modeling mammalian biocomplexity. Nicholson, J. K., Holmes, E., Lindon, J. C. & Wilson, I. D.

●A partnership between biology and engineering. Brent, R.