Book excerpt: This review volume integrates the advances in cancer biology, molecular imaging techniques and imaging probes for visualization and quantitative measurement of anatomical, functional, and molecular profiles of cancer. The volume also presents a comprehensive summary of the state-of-the-art technology in molecular imaging probe design and applications in radionuclide (PET and SPECT), magnetic resonance (MR), optical (fluorescence, Raman, photoacoustic), ultrasound, CT, and multimodality imaging. Bringing together the fundamentals of molecular imaging, and the basic principles of each molecular imaging modality in this volume, readers' understanding in this field is further enhanced. With a strong emphasis on the chemistry of the design of appropriate molecular imaging probes for early cancer detection, therapy-response monitoring, and anti-cancer drug development, the process of translating novel cancer imaging probes from bench to bedside is extensively discussed.