One of our long-time supporters, Claud Leandro, has kindly offered to sponsor Muriella's Corner this month. Claud is Program and Cultural Director of Caribbean Media Enterprise (C-ME), a New York-based production company, with a commitment to providing relevant and pertinent information about all aspects of the West Indian/Caribbean immigrant experience to foster intercultural learning and understanding about the diversity of the Caribbean Community. Visit the website for current and planned activities, C-ME
"Words can hurt and injure, belittle and befuddle.
But they can also exalt and embrace, soothe and comfort.
Let's then choose our words with much forethought".
Claud Leandro (2007)
PS - Thank you Paula for supporting us in May. Please email us for information on sponsorship - muriella at muriellascorner dot com
The newest targeted therapies are helping to tailor increasingly effective treatments to individual patients.
excerpts from article by Francisco J. Esteva & Gabriel N. Hortobagyi
Courtesy Scientific American
Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed malignancy among women and, after lung cancer, the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in North America. Yet unlike the survival rate for individuals diagnosed with lung cancer, the rate for women diagnosed with breast cancer has been rising dramatically over the past decade—to the point where breast cancer could soon lose its ranking as the second-greatest cancer killer. Nothing would delight clinicians like us more.
This improvement in overall outlook for women diagnosed with breast cancer is attributable in part to earlier detection, which results from greater awareness of and access to, regular breast screening. But breast cancer patients are also benefiting from accelerated research that has led to a much better understanding of the disease and a wider variety of treatment choices that doctors can mix and match to tailor therapy for a particular patient. In just the past decade, it has even become possible to target drugs to specific molecules within tumors that help to drive the disease.
Breast cancer was, in fact, the first type of solid-tumor cancer to be treated with this molecular-targeting therapeutic approach, when the drug trastuzumab (Herceptin) was approved in 1998. The protein that trastuzumab was designed to attack, called HER2, promotes aggressive tumor growth. Before trastuzumab, diagnosis with a tumor that overproduces HER2 was dreaded news for patients. Now it can be one of the tumor types with the best prognosis, because doctors have an increasing number of effective weapons against HER2.
The next decade promises to be an exciting and productive time in the field of moleculartargeted cancer therapy: additional drugs currently being tested in people and animals are making it possible to go after an increasing variety of molecular tumor features that play a critical role in the initiation and survival of malignancies and in the cancers’ progression to increasingly threatening stages. Along with improvements in older therapies and supportive care, this newer generation of drugs gives doctors more options for customizing treatment to cope with a tumor’s particular suite of molecular characteristics and reflects our growing realization that breast cancer is not a single disease.
Evolving Treatment Approaches
Although the prospect of tailoring treatment to the molecular features of individual tumors is incredibly encouraging, prior advances are also contributing to the declining mortality rate for women diagnosed with breast cancer. Improved screening techniques, for instance, are definitely helping to catch and confirm more cases at an earlier stage, which is a boon, because breast cancer is highly curable if detected early. Newer imaging methods include digital mammography (which produces a clearer picture than screen-film mammography), ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Women at high risk of developing breast cancer because of family history or mutations in one of the BRCA genes are now offered annual MRI breast screening, although ultrasounds are usually reserved for following up on abnormal findings in a mammogram or physical exam. Read more
If you're cooking in the kitchen with ginger, chances are you're lowering your risk of cancer.
Every pantry should be stocked with this knobby-looking rootstock spice. It possesses two cancer-inhibiting compounds, 6-gingerol and 6-paradol, and it lends a warm, pungent twist to dishes, especially fish. In fact, you may be most familiar with the pickled ginger that is often served with sushi. For the most benefit, choose fresh over pickled whenever possible; simply peel, shred, and mince the root into foods.
Other spices that may boost your ability to reduce cancer risk include garlic and onion. And, incidentally, their flavors pair very well with ginger's in soup and stir-fry dishes. Garlic is rich in allicin, a compound that has been shown to restrict the growth of certain cancer cells. Onion is rich in quercetin, a polyphenol that has been shown to inhibit the growth of pancreatic cancer cells.
Originally published on 10/09/2006.
Tip References: Inhibition of epidermal growth factor-induced cell transformation and activator protein 1 activation by [6]-gingerol. Bode, A. M., Ma, W. Y., Surh, Y. J., Dong, Z., Cancer Research 2001 Feb 1; 61(3): 850-853.
Scientists have found that traces of the chemicals used to make plastics are present in many of the foods we eat. And researchers at the University of Missouri believe that, for pregnant women, this seemingly insignificant - but constant - exposure can have disastrous effects on their unborn sons.
The researchers suggest that one of those chemicals - bisphenol A - can cause microscopic changes in the developing prostate gland of a male fetus. While these changes are not noticeable at birth, they can show up later - in the form of prostate disease.
Bisphenol A exerts its effect by imitating the hormone estrogen. And - no matter what happened in the womb - men can lower the risk of prostate disease by lowering the amount of estrogen in their blood. One effective way to do it is to eat cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts. It's also a good idea to avoid food and drinks that are stored in plastic or come in contact with heated plastic (in the microwave, for example).
Asian cultures have promoted the many health benefits of green tea for thousands of years. In the last decade, modern science has been catching up. Hundreds of studies now confirm that you should be drinking a few cups of green tea every day. And two recent studies show that it provides particularly powerful prostate protection. (Say that three times fast!)
Italian researchers studied 62 men with a pre-cancerous prostate condition. (Normally, this condition would result in cancer in 30 percent of cases.) Half the men were given a placebo, while half consumed green tea extract daily. In the placebo group, 9 out of 30 men developed cancer. In the green tea group, only 1 out of 32 developed the disease. This is consistent with the results of an Australian study of Chinese men which found that those who consumed the most green tea were two-thirds less likely to develop prostate cancer.
You can buy organic green tea and green tea extract at any health food store.
> Several years ago, I had a man seeking asparagus for a friend who had > cancer. He gave me a photocopied copy of an article, entitled, `Asparagus > for cancer' printed in Cancer News Journal, December 1979. I will share it > here, just as it was shared with me: > > "I am a biochemist, and have specialised in the relation of diet to health > for over 50 years. Several years ago, I learned of the discovery of Richard > R. Vensal, D.D.S. that asparagus might cure cancer. Since then, I have > worked with him on his project, and we have accumulated a number of > favourable case histories. Here are a few examples. > > Case No. 1, man with an almost hopeless case of Hodgkin's disease (cancer > of > the lymph glands) who was completely incapacitated. Within 1 year of > starting the asparagus therapy, his doctors were unable to detect any signs > of cancer, and he was back on a schedule of strenuous e xercise. > > Case No. 2, a successful businessman 68 years old who suffered from cancer > of the bladder for 16 years. After years of medical treatments, including > radiation without improvement, he went on asparagus. Within 3 months, > examinations revealed that his bladder tumour had disappeared and that his > kidneys were normal. > > Case No. 3, a man who had lung cancer. On March 5th 1971 he was put on the > operating table where they found lung cancer so widely spread that it was > inoperable. The surgeon sewed him up and declared his case hopeless. On > April 5th he heard about the asparagus therapy and immediately started > taking it. By August, x-ray pictures revealed that all signs of the cancer > had disappeared. He is back at his regular business routine. > > Case No. 4, a woman who was troubled for a number of years with skin > cancer. > She finally developed different skin cancers which were diagnosed by a skin > specialist as advanced. Within 3 months after starting on aspar agus, her > skin specialist said that her skin looked fine and no more skin lesions. > This woman reported that the asparagus therapy also cured her kidney > disease, which started in 1949. She had over 10 operations for kidney > stones, and was receiving government disability payments for an inoperable, > terminal, kidney condition. She attributes the cure of this kidney trouble > entirely to the asparagus. > > I was not surprised at this result, as `The elements of materia medica', > edited in 1854 by a Professor at the University of Pennsylvania, stated > that > asparagus was used as a popular remedy for kidney stones. He even referred > to experiments, in 1739, on the power of asparagus in dissolving stones. We > would have other case histories but the medical establishment has > interfered > with our obtaining some of the records. I am therefore appealing to readers > to spread this good news and help us to gather a large number of case > histories that will overwhelm the medical skeptics about t his unbelievably > simple and natural remedy. > > For the treatment, asparagus should be cooked before using, and therefore > canned asparagus is just as good as fresh. I have corresponded with the two > leading canners of asparagus, Giant Giant and Stokely, and I am satisfied > that these brands contain no pesticides or preservatives. Place the cooked > asparagus in a blender and liquefy to make a puree, and store in the > refrigerator. Give the patient 4 full tablespoons twice daily, morning and > evening. Patients usually show some improvement in from 2-4 weeks. It can > be diluted with water and used as a cold or hot drink. This suggested dosage > is based on present experience, but certainly larger amounts can do no harm > and may be needed in some cases. > > As a biochemist I am convinced of the old saying that `what cures can > prevent'. Based on this theory, my wife and I have been using asparagus > puree as a beverage with our meals. We take 2 tablespoons diluted in water > to suit our taste with breakfast and with dinner. I take mine hot and my > wife prefers hers cold. For years we have made it a practice to have blood > surveys taken as part of our regular checkups. > > The last blood survey, taken by a medical doctor who specialises in the > nutritional approach to health, showed substantial improvements in all > categories over the last one, and we can attribute these improvements to > nothing but the asparagus drink. As a biochemist, I have made an extensive > study of all aspects of cancer, and all of the proposed cures. As a result, > I am convinced that asparagus fits in better with the latest theories about > cancer. > > Asparagus contains a good supply of protein called histones, which are > believed to be active in controlling cell growth. For that reason, I > believe > asparagus can be said to contain a substance that I call cell growth > normaliser. That accounts for its action on cancer and in acting as a > general body tonic. In any event, regardless of theor y, asparagus used as > we suggest, is a harmless substance. The FDA cannot prevent you from using > it and it may do you much good." It has been reported by the US National > Cancer Institute, that asparagus is the highest tested food containing > glutathione, which is considered one of the body's most potent > anticarcinogens and antioxidants.
A team led by biochemists at the University of California, San Diego has found what could be a long-elusive mechanism through which inflammation can promote cancer. The findings may provide a new approach for developing cancer therapies.
The study, published in the Jan. 26 issue of the journal Cell, shows that what scientists thought were two distinct processes in cells — the cells’ normal development and the cells’ response to dangers such as invading organisms — are actually linked. The researchers, who were also from the Salk Institute for Biological Studies and the La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology, say that the linkage of these two processes may explain why cancer, which is normal growth and development gone awry, can result from chronic inflammation, which is an out-of-control response to danger.
“Although there is plenty of evidence that chronic inflammation can promote cancer, the cause of this relationship is not understood,” said Alexander Hoffmann, an assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry at U.C. San Diego, who led the study. “We have identified a basic cellular mechanism that we think may be linking chronic inflammation and cancer.”
Cellular defense is a rapid process compared to cellular development, just as a state’s response to terrorist threats is swifter than the construction of new infrastructure. However, in both settings, safeguarding against threats and building structures have certain steps in common and require similar types of workers, or molecules.
Hoffmann referred to the parallel sets of steps in cellular defense and development as “mirror image pathways.” His team showed that these pathways are not distinct from one another because they are linked by a protein called p100. They found that inflammation leads to an increase in p100, but that p100 is also used in certain steps in development. Therefore p100 allows communication between inflammation and development.
A small amount of dialogue between inflammation and development is beneficial, say the researchers, akin to how information from anti-terrorism efforts could be useful to crews building the state’s infrastructure. On the other hand, the constant influence of defense processes on development is detrimental.
“Studies with animals have shown that a little inflammation is necessary for the normal development of the immune system and other organ systems,” explained Hoffmann. “We discovered that the protein p100 provides the cell with a way in which inflammation can influence development. But there can be too much of a good thing. In the case of chronic inflammation, the presence of too much p100 may overactivate the developmental pathway, resulting in cancer.”
In the paper, the researchers propose that thinking of the processes of defense and development as part of a single large system “represents an opportunity for therapeutic intervention.” For example, it might be easier to break the link between inflammation and cancer by targeting the developmental pathway, rather than the inflammation pathway.
“Many of the developmental signals that cells use are sent outside the cell, so they should be easier to block with drugs than inflammation signals, which tend to be confined within cells,” said Hoffmann. “It’s more challenging to design drugs that will enter cells.”
Because the molecules that play a role in the inflammation and development pathways have been extensively studied for many years, the researchers say that it is surprising to find a new molecule that significantly revises scientists’ understanding about the interactions between inflammation and development.
“The finding is exciting because it means that p100 provides cells with a memory to inflammatory exposure,” said Soumen Basak, a postdoctoral fellow working with Hoffmann.
The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of America and the American Heart Association.
Continued, unexplained weight loss Headaches, often with early morning vomiting Increased swelling or persistent pain in bones, joints, back, or legs Lump or mass, especially in the abdomen, neck, chest, pelvis, or armpits Development of excessive bruising, bleeding, or rash Constant infections A whitish color behind the pupil Nausea which persists or vomiting without nausea Constant tiredness or noticeable paleness Eye or vision changes which occur suddenly and persist Recurrent or persistent fevers of unknown origin
Childhood cancer is rare. It is unlikely that your child will develop cancer. Still, as a parent, you need to be aware of the symptoms of childhood cancer.
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