Understand Cancer

TNF Pathway

2007-05-09T10:49:00.000+02:00

The TNF pathway is very important in the sense that it plays a role both in cell proliferation and apoptosis. When it comes to cell proliferation, the molecule NFκB is termed as the major player. The pathway functions as follows. When TNF comes and binds to the TNF receptor, the receptor summons a molecule called TRAF. As soon as TRAF gets attached, a series of processes take place most

Ras/MAPK pathway

2007-05-09T10:44:00.000+02:00

The Ras/MAPK pathway is very important as it plays a role in cell proliferation, cell differentiation and also cell migration. The molecule Ras plays an important role in activating the MAPK pathway. Initially, it is in an inactive state being associated with GDP molecules. When the mitogenic signals (TGF alpha) come and bind to the Tyrosine Kinase receptors, it results in the activation of Ras.

UNDERSTAND CANCER website.

2007-04-30T09:40:00.000+02:00

Dear Readers,This is to inform you that the Understand Cancer website is up with all the network trees. Each Cell Behavior is expressed by a number of Cell Processes namely:(a) Signal Generation(b) Signal Transmission(c) Signal Sensing(d) Signal Transduction(e) TranscriptionWe are in the process of developing rules for the model at this moment.Sidharth MohandasUnderstand Cancerunderstandcancer@

Vegetables!!!

2007-04-09T13:09:00.000+02:00

Majority of the questions I receive related to cancer is as to what diet we should follow so as to protect from cancer. Though I hate saying this the answer is obvious: Vegetables! Research has identified many ingredients in vegetables that can protect from different types of cancers.Vegetables with the Highest Anti-cancer Activity garlic cabbage soy ginger

Gums for Cancer

2007-04-03T07:09:00.000+02:00

Hey guys, guess what…they developed chewing gums to prevent cancer! We know that over 80% of mouth and throat cancers are linked to smoking and drinking- as smoking and drinking increases the acetaldehyde level in our body- which is linked to a greater risk of cancer. However the amino acid, L-cysteine , can bind effectively to acetaldehyde and block it from causing cancer. From these facts, the

Apoptosis and Cancer

2007-04-02T06:23:00.000+02:00

Figure 1: TNF R, TRADD and apoptosis Figure 2: Apoptosome formation and apoptosis n n The transcription factor E2F 1 plays a very important role in all the aspects related to cancer making it one of the most important component in the cancer cycle.

MSG and Cancer

2007-03-27T08:37:00.000+02:00

Monosodium Glutamate [MSG] is causing great concern in the medical community because it stimulates brain cell activity. MSG tricks your brain to think the food you are eating tastes good. Manufacturers can use inferior ingredients and thus make a product seem tastier than the reality. Contrary to what society believes, MSG intolerance is not an allergic reaction but a drug reaction that destroy

Laugh!

2007-03-27T07:34:00.000+02:00

EXCITOTOXINS

2007-03-27T06:59:00.000+02:00

Excitotoxins have been found to dramatically promote cancer growth and metastasis. In fact, one aspartame researcher noticed that, when cancer cells were exposed to aspartame, they became more mobile, and you see the same effect with MSG. It also causes a cancer cell to become more mobile, and that enhances metastasis, or spread. These MSG-exposed cancer cells developed all of these pseudopodians

Cancer Bug

2007-03-19T09:00:00.000+01:00

Figure taken from AASHelicobacter pylori, or H. pylori, is a spiral-shaped bacterium that is able to grow in the human stomach. Normally, the acidic stomach environment prevents the survival of viruses, bacteria, and other microorganisms. However, H. pylori has evolved to be uniquely suited to thrive in the harsh stomach environment. H. pylori bacteria secrete urease, a special enzyme that

Pesticides and Cancer

2007-03-19T08:15:00.000+01:00

By Gwen Petremanhttp://www.livinggreen.info/library/pestices_and_cancer.cfm The most convincing evidence that pesticides are carcinogens comes from epidemiological studies. Farmers who frequently use 2,4-D have a six-fold increase in non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Scientists believe that the use of lawn chemicals such as 2,4-D has been a significant factor in the 50% rise in non-Hodgkin’s

Artificial sweeteners and Cancer

2007-03-16T07:39:00.000+01:00

Is there an association between artificial sweeteners and cancer? Questions about artificial sweeteners and cancer arose when early studies showed that cyclamate in combination with saccharin [In figure] caused bladder cancer in laboratory animals. However, results from subsequent carcinogenicity studies (studiesthat examine whether a substance can cause cancer) on these sweeteners and other

Telomerase Activation

2007-03-15T10:40:00.000+01:00

Li-Fraumeni's Syndrome

2007-03-15T07:01:00.000+01:00

"We have known since 1990 that Li-Fraumeni was associated with inheritance of a mutated form of the p53 tumor suppressor gene, but we also noticed each generation developed cancer earlier than the preceding generation," said David Malkin, M.D"We were able to look at the DNA of multiple members of families that carried Li-Fraumeni and, overwhelmingly, telomere length was shorter in children with

What is chemobrain?

2007-03-14T09:10:00.000+01:00

The terms "chemobrain" and "chemofog" refer to cognitive changes during and after cancer diagnosis and treatment. Though these terms imply a relation to chemotherapy, it isn't clear that chemotherapy is responsible. Women with breast cancer who underwent chemotherapy were the first group to bring these symptoms to light, as more started mentioning their symptoms to their doctors. It isn't clear

Exhaust Cancer

2007-03-09T08:13:00.000+01:00

When there is something wrong with the fruit, the best approach is to go to the root. And that's exactly what we're trying to do here at RRL. Getting to the molecular level and finding out which signaling pathways and molecular interactions are responsible for the formation and development of cancer. If you would have noticed in the pathway explanations I have put up in this blog: activation of

Common Cold Virus kills Cancer

2007-03-08T11:32:00.000+01:00

Australian studies have found the Coxsackie Cold virus can kill cancer cells in a test tube and in mice but leaves normal tissue largely unaffected.Biomedical scientist Kathryn Skelding, of the University of Newcastle, said if the treatment proved successful, the hope was that it may eventually replace chemotherapy and radiation, which both have debilitating side effects for patients, including

Article on Wikipedia

2007-03-07T12:13:00.000+01:00

Article on Neuromedin B posted by Sidharth Mohandas on Wikipedia

More about Aromasin

2007-03-07T07:27:00.000+01:00

Exemestane is a medicine that is used to treat breast cancer in women whose disease has progressed while they were taking tamoxifen. Many breast cancer tumors grow in response to estrogen. Exemestane interferes with the production of estrogen in the body. As a result, the amount of estrogen that the tumor is exposed to is reduced, limiting the growth of the tumor. This medicine is meant

Aromasin Beats Tamoxifen

2007-03-07T07:13:00.000+01:00

[ Source: Xinhuanet ]The new drug exemestane for breast cancer treatment could improve survival rates by 17 percent, new research shows. A study of 4,742 post-menopausal women found that switching from the present gold-standard breast cancer treatment Tamoxifen to the new drug Exemestane after two or three years resulted in a dramatic fall in death rates, The Times newspaper reported on Tuesday.

Calcium Conscious

2007-03-05T08:05:00.000+01:00

Here’s a call to be diet conscious! Many years back, the Harvard University found out that excess of Calcium in diet can lead to Prostrate Cancer. The explanation that most hold onto is that calcium can reduce the Vitamin D level in our body, which protects the prostrate gland. It has also been noted that Vitamin D can slow down the growth of cells, which in turn will prevent the progression of

DOGS CAN SMELL CANCER

2007-02-28T10:04:00.000+01:00

I'm sure this one will amaze you: New studies show that dogs can detect cancer by just sniffing the breath of the person. Ordinary household dogs with only a few weeks of basic "puppy training" learned to accurately distinguish between breath samples of lung- and breast-cancer patients and healthy subjects.[Taken from National Geographic News] Dogs can identify chemical traces in the range of

Green Tea and Cancer

2007-02-27T12:13:00.000+01:00

Green tea contains anti-oxidant which may have a protective effect against cancer. However, now they have found out that there are chemicals in green tea that can shut down a key molecule that plays a significant role in cancer development. Recently a team of researchers found out that the polyphenols present in Green tea reduced the IGF-1 [Insulin-like Growth Factor- mentioned in the article "

POKEMON AND CANCER

2007-02-27T09:30:00.000+01:00

In January 2005, the Scientists at MSKCC identified a new cellular oncogene that was essential for cancer development. The investigators named this oncogene as Zbtb7, formerly called Pokemon [POK Erythroid Myeloid ONtogenic factor]. Unlike other oncogenes, Zbtb7 is required for the activation of other oncogenes to cause cancer. The Zbtb7 protein plays such a crucial role in cancer formation,

INTEGRIN SIGNALING

2007-02-22T12:18:00.000+01:00

Integrins are heterodimeric receptors of non-covalently linked α and β subunits.Most integrins function as receptors of ECM proteins, however some family members such as β2 integrins, α 4 β 1 integrins mediate heterotypic cell-cell adhesion.Integrins interact with ECM and mediates intracellular signals in response to the ECM.Integrin couples the ligand on the ECM

SURVIVAL FACTORS

2007-02-20T06:53:00.000+01:00

It was discovered that a well known survival factor IGF-1 [Insulin like Growth Factor-1] works by sabotaging a component of death machinery. It was found that IGF-1 specifically dispatches a pair of messengers that help to sequester the notorious death factor BAD. And thus preventing it from killing the cells. Neuromedin B is a Bombesin-related peptide in mammals. It was originally purified from pig spinal cord, and later shown to be present in human CNS [Central Nervous System] and GIT [Gastro-Intestinal Tracts] It has many functions:1. Regulation of

PI3K Signaling

2007-02-16T05:34:00.000+01:00

Cells continuously receive information ('signals') from their environment and from their neighbors. These signals are converted into intracellular 'second messenger signals' which ultimately make the cells respond by, for example, dividing, moving or even dying. Deregulated signaling is a hallmark of cancer cells. A key second

WNT Pathway

2007-02-15T09:54:00.000+01:00

About Wnt: Wnt consists of a large family of cysteine-rich glycoproteins which are involved in early embryonic development.The term wnt is an amalgam of wingless (Wg) and int.Wg in Drosophila was found to be homologous to int in mice, and so the family name was changed to Wnt to reflect both origins.Wnt Pathway: The Wnt ligand binds to a particular receptor

Neovastat: Fights Angiogenesis

2007-02-14T09:22:00.000+01:00

A number of studies have shown Neovastat to have anti-angiogenic properties. The mechanisms of action include:

Cancer Vaccines

2007-02-14T07:30:00.000+01:00

For past many decades cancer has been treated by surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. However, now researchers are finding ways to stimulate the body's own immune system to recognize the cancer cells and destroy them without harming the normal cells. Cancer vaccines represent an emerging type of biological therapy. Unlike prophylactic vaccines, majority of the cancer vaccines cannot

The Guardian of the Genome- p53

2007-02-14T06:47:00.000+01:00

[From NCBI]The p53 gene like the Rb [Retinoblastoma] gene, is a tumor suppressor gene, i.e., its activity stops the formation of tumors. If a person inherits only one functional copy of the p53 gene from their parents, they are predisposed to cancer and usually develop several independent tumors in a variety of tissues in early adulthood. This condition is rare, and is known as Li-Fraumeni

Aspirin: The Humble Drug

2007-02-14T06:29:00.000+01:00

[From BBC News]Aspirin may protect against cancers of the mouth, throat and Oesophagus, a study suggests. Researchers in Italy say taking aspirin regularly for five years cuts the risk of contracting these diseases by two thirds. The findings add to growing evidence that aspirin truly is a miracle drug. Previous studies have shown that the pill, developed more than 100 years ago, may help

Chemical Signals and Metastasis

2007-02-13T07:01:00.000+01:00

[From various articles] Initially, growth factors released by the primary tumour trigger the production of an adhesive protein called fibronectin [Shown in figure] on the surface of cells at the target site.Then a second tranche of growth factors is released to encourage bone marrow cells to zero-in on the same site.Once there, they cluster in groups, forming a support structure which stabilises

A Virus that kills Cancer

2007-02-13T05:06:00.000+01:00

[From CNN.com]A common virus that is harmless to people can destroy cancerous cells in the body and might be developed into a new cancer therapy, US researchers said.The virus, called adeno-associated virus type 2, or AAV-2, infects an estimated 80 percent of the population."Our results suggest that adeno-associated virus type 2, which infects the majority of the population but has no known ill

Stem cells and Cancer

2007-02-12T10:55:00.000+01:00

From BBC NEWS Adult stem cells can pose a cancer risk, warn scientists. Stem cells are immature "master" cells that can be programmed to become many kinds of

miRNA inhibits Cancer

2007-02-12T10:15:00.000+01:00

[Taken from Eurekalert] Scientists report that tumor cells display a dramatic reduction of cancer-causing genes when a newly discovered method is used to activate the expression of protective microRNAs in the cancer cell genome. The research, published in the June issue of Cancer Cell, demonstrates that agents known to regulate gene expression can also impact regulatory RNAs that may function as

Postings

2007-02-12T06:36:00.000+01:00

If you have any latest information on cancer you are free to send it to us so that we can post it on this site. The only requirement is that you mention the source from where you have taken the information.Posting address: sdtwj@aol.comBlog AdministratorUnderstand Cancer

RAD51D and Telomeres

2007-02-08T10:39:00.000+01:00

[From Medical News Today] In the new study, scientists at the Cancer Research UK London Research Institute, with additional funding from Breast Cancer Campaign, investigated how else cancer cells might subvert the natural ageing process.They used a technique called immunofluorescence to light up various molecules within cancer cells and see precisely where they were operating. One particular

New Pathway Identified In Angiogenesis

2007-02-08T08:53:00.000+01:00

[Taken from ScienceDaily]Ohio Scientists have discovered a new biological pathway that may be useful in regulating angiogenesis, the process the body uses to build new blood vessels. The findings, published in the December issue of the journal Immunity, may offer clinicians a new way to intervene in a broad range of diseases and disorders, including cancer, heart and lung

Latest on Metastasis

2007-02-06T06:32:00.000+01:00

Taken from ScienceDailyBefore cancer cells can migrate, or metastasize, to other parts of the body, they first have to disconnect from their neighbors in the tumor. A team of University of Wisconsin-Madison and Canadian scientists has made a surprising discovery: The same enzyme that controls the ability of cancer cells to move also governs a process that binds them tightly in place. "It's kind

TELOMERES AND CANCER

2007-02-02T07:07:00.000+01:00

Figure: Shows telomere ends of chromosomeHayflick demonstrated that cells have limited replicative potential in normal human fibroblasts . He demonstrated that after a characteristic number of cell divisions called the Hayflick Limit, the cells failed to divide in response to growth signals. Normal cell types have a replicating capacity of 60 to 80

TISSUE INVASION AND METASTASIS

2007-02-01T08:03:00.000+01:00

INTRODUCTION: Metastasis can be defined as the ability of cancerous cells to break off from it's primary site and form tumors at a different part of the body.To metastasize a cancer cell must break away from it's tumor, invade the circulatory or lymph system- which will carry it to a new location.The body has many safeguards to prevent this from happening- yet many cancerous cells

ANGIOGENESIS

2007-01-23T05:53:00.000+01:00

INTRODUCTION:Angiogenesis is the formation of new blood vessel from existing ones.This is different from Vasculogenesis, which is the formation of blood vessels from scratch.It is involved in both normal and pathological processes :Angiogenesis in normal processes:Embryonic DevelopmentMenstural cycle and PregnancyWound healing