Nanoparticles assist P53 Gene function; possible reduction of Radio/Chemo side-effects

Developments for cancer treatments are moving at a fast rate. One of the new words on the block is 'Nanoparticle', one thousandth smaller than a printed period, which researchers are fast incorporating into projected treatments, that may see reduction in radio and chemotherapy treatments in near future!
Prof.Mel Greave's book "Cancer, the Evolutionary Legacy" describes in chapter 8, when cells are damaged or stressed by any one of many different mechanisms, the P53 gene stabilises aggressive activity, enabling it to exercise its function as an alarm system. "A malfunction in the P53 gene alarm is taken as bad news" comments Prof.Greave.
Now, such is the development over past couple of years, has seen a move to assist the P53 gene-path maintained - "Nanoparticles to the rescue!"
With this new buzz word in place, researchers have now delivered functional-P53 genes to tumor cells and tumor metastases in 16 different types of cancer, including prostrate, pancreatic, melanoma, breast, head and neck cancers.
The presence of replacement genes dramatically improved the efficiency of conventional cancer therapy. Dr.Esther Cheng, Georgetown's University Lombardi Cancer centre, said "the use of the P53 delivery system eventually would allow physicians to use lower doses of therapies, achieving same or enhanced theraputic results, sharply diminishing the side-effects so troublesome in many treatments".
With clinical trials progressing, Dr.Cheng is hopeful gene therapy will become front-line treatment that will significantly reduce probability of recurrent tumors.
Acknowledgment sciancedaily.com Geoff

How Tumor Cells move, Protein breakthrough

Recent research, released by pharmacology scientists in Germany, have indicated how tumor cells move around from one place to another (metastases). A previously unknown factor of a cell is referred to as a 'cell signal factor' (SCAI), which acts as a suppressor of cancer cell invasion.
When the cell signal factor's functioning is disrupted, cancer cells move more affectively in what is known as three-dimensional matrix systems, initiating some of the tissue properties of the human body.
Dr.Robert Grosse, head of a research group, funded by Pharmacology Institute, University of Heidelberg, Germany, said "If cancer cells lack a certain protein, it could be much easier to penetrate healthy body tissue; the protein is suppressed in many types of tumors in breast, lung and thyroid".
Focusing on particularly aggressive cancers, tumor cells are extremely mobile and penetrate healthy tissue to form metastases, which are helped in their movement by special surface structures, referred to as receptors.
One of these receptors is known as b1-integrin, frequently forms in many tumors as metastesesing breast cancer.
Dr. Grosse continued "the signal cell factor (SCAI) controls the formation of b1-integrin, which if there is too little SCAI in tumor cells, then the receptor becomes overactive, allowing the cell to change more rapidly to a more aggressive form, penetrating tissue and forming another metasteses".
The research teram led by Dr.Grosse would like to study the function of cell signal factor (SCAI) more closely in an annimal model.
"If the function of SCAI is confirmed to be decisive in the formation of especially aggressive tumor cells, this could be a promising starting point for developing new diagnostic methods of medication" said Dr.Grosse.
It could be possible to develop an agent that prevents the genetic suppression of the signal factor in cancer cells.
"But first researchers need to better understand how the signal factor itself is regulated in the cell" Dr.Robert Grosse concluded. Acknowledgment medicalnewstoday.com Geoff.

Mobile Phone: Myth of Convenience or Health

Mobile Phones. Four or five decades ago, we were starting to gradually endorse the quick-change occurring over the common telephone. First the black two-piece; with separate ear-piece, then came the relatively-heavy single, still black, phone that straddled a center post above the new fangled-dial ring.
Alexander Bell would have been pretty chuffed at the phone's progress upto start of the forties. Then fashion took a hand, partly influenced by Hollywood, color was now the new demand - white, pink and even gold.
Up to now, the path of development of the common phone had moved from a wall-mount and desk-model, to becoming a separate point of interest, eventually something that could be handled easily and placed in one's pocket or handbag. Mr.Bell would be horrified by todays' developments, where the convenience factor is high on list of "must haves", and we now cannot move or travel without it!
Such is the technology that has screamed ahead to match demand, is now showing up health concerns for users; headaches, sore heads and dizziness. Young people especially, have heavily endorsed the mobile phone as we know it today, spending 4 to 6 hours per day, and measured over 30 year period of use has medical profession now listing many cases of projected head cancer (tumors).
Manufacturers quickly realised the demand for their product, assisted the fashion-statements accordingly. Business and Governments endorsed the mobile quickly for customer contact, as well as improved internal communications for local bodies. There are some who have scoffed at the idea that a mobile phone can be harmful.
Mid-2008, alarm bells were going-off over mobile use. Scientists and medical researchers produced reams of reports that have digested the 'pros and cons' on health effect of mobile phone use.
Now, it is up to You to assess your convenience of health, just as you have endorsed the convenience of use. You may be just a teenager, or an executive, whose daily ritual is to have your mobile literally 'strapped' to your ear. At sometime, you are going to develop a headache . . .and an aspirin will not fix it !!!
Call your GP! on your mobile? Geoff.

Gene patent: Your Body, but Who are the Owners?

Recent news among Australian medical research groups caused alarm regarding the subject of registering a patent of a human gene. The story involves a leading Australian Gene technology company, where management presented a move to register a patent on the gene BRACA1 and BRACA2.
This would have allowed the company exclusive rights to research the gene, effectively blocking any access by other research organisations. Luckily, internal discussion within the company failed the move..
Within this fast moving medical research, there is a danger for extreme measures like this being considered by company managements to justify their dominance in the medical research world. A big danger is that the most important person in all of this is the patient; information and knowledge could be denied them.
Discussion on gene patenting is to be discussed at a free public forum, conducted by Intellectual Property Research Institute and Melbourne Business School on April 24 in Melbourne, Australia.
A Brain Tumor Support Group has advised Federal MP's to inquire if examination of legislation could assist this question of gene patent. A total review of Australia's Health Care system is also underway. Geoff.