Tag Archives: cancer
Rising from obscurity: 11β-hydroxy-androstenedione under the spotlight
Steroid hormones are small molecules that act as messengers in our bodies, regulating normal development and impacting on disease. These hormones are produced from cholesterol by the actions of enzymes− proteins which change cholesterol to form new
The many faces of macrophages in lung cancer
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death worldwide, accounting for more deaths than breast, prostate, and colon cancer combined. Within the past decade, the role of the immune system in the development and progression of
Get yourself to eat your way out of cancer and neurodegenerative diseases
A cells health is maintained by numerous biological processes one of which termed autophagy (or self-eating) involves the breakdown of parts of the cell in an orderly manner, this is in order to generate energy and replace
The molecular analysis of tumor cells in pancreatic tissue – searching for a needle in a haystack
In cancer research usually the tumor cell specific abnormalities are of interest: gene mutations, production of abnormal proteins, production of abnormal quantity of proteins, tumor cells treatment response. But the molecular analysis of pancreatic tumor samples poses
A cancers addiction to glutamine affects the whole body and could lead to complex skin rashes
Signs or symptoms far from the vicinity of a developing cancer in the body can give clues of its presence (paraneoplastic syndromes). The skin can offer visible markers of abnormal metabolic activity caused by tumourigenesis, in the
A new target in the fight against breast cancer
Cancer cells differ from normal cells in many ways, including their abnormal growth and their ability to change shape and migrate to other tissues. These differences are partly caused by changes in the production of proteins and
Major amputation in the management of advanced limb melanoma
Melanoma is an aggressive type of skin cancer that can recur at the original excision site or spread to nearby areas of the body (called “in-transit” metastases), to the lymph nodes that drain that region and/or to
Lutetium-177 radioisotope targeted therapy for treatment of cancer and other diseases
By their nature, radioactive isotopes are unstable and can change to more stable forms by radioactive decay and emission of different types of radiation. This emitted radiation is useful for cancer treatment which includes placement of “sealed”
Combinatorial cancer therapies: too many “good guys” don’t do always good!
“Μέτρον άριστον” (Metron ariston) is an ancient Greek phrase, attribute to Cleobulus (6th century BC), one of the Seven Sages of Antiquity, and is translated, as “Moderation is the best”. This was meant to be applied to
Guanine-nucleotide exchange factor that promotes loss of polygonal cell shape
Actin cytoskeleton dynamics determines cell shape and movement. Fibroblasts or epithelial cells, for instance, adhere and spread onto planar surfaces adopting an elongated polygonal shape. Underneath the cytoplasmic membrane, local activation of small GTPase enzymes of the
AMPK, an energy consumption supervisor, regulates hedgehog and may be a cancer therapeutic target
A cell can be thought of as a factory with many machines controlling different processes. Cell growth is the process by which a cell divides and multiplies. It is a highly energy-consuming process. Therefore, supervisors are needed
Diagnosis of small cell lung carcinoma metastases
Cancer is defined by unscheduled cellular growth and metastatic spread into other organs of the body. Tumor cells gain their capacities form genetic alterations, also known as mutations, leading to altered protein functions and signaling pathways. Tumors
Non-genetic health professionals’ perceptions of genetic testing for hereditary cancer
Over the last decade more genetic tests are being ordered by non-genetic health professionals, such as oncologists, gynecologists, and primary care providers. Numerous studies have shown that non-genetic health professionals have insufficient knowledge of genetics, express educational
Could a newly-discovered bacteria contribute to cancer?
For many years, doctors and scientists have known that certain viruses, such as human papilloma virus (HPV), are capable of causing cancer. Until recently, bacteria were ignored as potential carcinogens. This changed with the discovery that Helicobacter
Undertreatment of men in their seventies with aggressive prostate cancer
Prostate cancer may be cured by either surgery or radiation treatment, but these “radical treatments” often cause permanent side effects that negatively affect the quality of life. Small prostate cancers usually grow very slowly, so more elderly
Ban of asbestos has saved lives
Banning of the use of asbestos in Sweden has two components. In the mid-1970s the use was restricted through an agreement between unions and employers in the construction industry and there was also a voluntary restriction in
Tracking down the cells that produce cancers of the tonsil caused by HPV infection
The cells that cover the inside and outside surfaces of many adult tissues are called epithelia. The cells most external to the tissue usually don’t survive very long and must be therefore be continuously replaced. This is
Pancreatic cancer and innovative treatment: the seeming paradox to block the immune response
Pancreatic cancer (PC) is the 5th leading cause of cancer‐related death in the developed world with more than 260,000 annual deaths worldwide and with a dismal 5‐year survival (5%). The lethality of pancreatic cancer is due to
