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Cancer Therapeutics

Wednesday 14 September 2011

Research into cancer signalling has paved the way for the development of numerous cancer therapeutics, which act at different stages/sites in the cell-cycle to arrest/suppress signalling in cancer cells and induce cell death. Molecularly targeted drugs based on rational drug design have been developed to target and inhibit isolated genes or pathways crucial to the disease mechanism. Many of the earlier targeted therapeutics utilised cancer vaccines, siRNA and antisense oligonucleotides, however, novel therapies now employ monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) and small-molecule protein-kinase inhibitors (SMPKIs), and have been more successful. MoAbs are bulky and target membrane-bound receptors and act through interfering with ligand-receptor interactions, complement-mediated cytotoxicity, immune modulation and antibody-dependent cellular toxicity. SMPKIs are dual specific and target both membrane-bound and internal targets via binding catalytic domains, allosteric binders, inactive kinase binding ligands, and ATP analogues. Because of the structural homology shared by many protein kinases, a single SMPKI can inhibit multiple protein kinases, which is quite advantageous in anticancer therapy.

Molecularly targeted drugs can be placed into several categories based on their mode of action and the specific disease mechanism targeted. Some of the major categories include (i) Aromatase inhibitors, block aromatase in oestrogen-sensitive breast cancer (Drugs: Anastrozole/Arimidex®, exemestane/Aromasin®). (ii) Signal transduction inhibitors; e.g. HER receptor inhibitors, protein kinase inhibitors (scr inhibitors e.g. Dasatinib/Spryce®, Bosutinib), aurora kinase inhibitors (AZD-1152), MAPK inhibitors (Tipifarnib/Zarnestral, Sorafenib/Nexavar, ARRY-142886), PI3k/Akt/mTOR inhibitors (Temsirolimus/Torisel, Rapamycin/Rapamune, Perifosine), etc. (iii) Gene expression modifiers/epigenetic modulators; e.g. histone deacetylases (HDACs) inhibitors and DNA methyltransferase inhibitors (Vorinostat/Zolinza®, Romidepsin (Istodax®), which increase gene expression leading to the induction of tumour cell differentiation, cell-cycle arrest, and apoptosis (Rountree et al., 2000). (iv) Cell death enhancers; these interfere with the action of proteasomes and DNA synthesis thus triggering cell death (Bortezomib/Velcade®, Pralatrexate/Folotyn®) (v) Angiogenesis blockers, which block the growth of blood vessels to tumours, integrin agents that inhibit metastasis (Volociximab), and anti-VEGF/VEGFR (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor) agents (Bevacizumab/Avastin®, Sorafenib/Nexavar®, Sunitinib/Sutent®).

EGF signalling is crucial in cancer since it integrates many cascades and also that tumour cells produce EGF-related growth factors (e.g. TGF-α is a ligand for EGFR), which makes EGFR constitutively active. For this reason and the fact the EGFR was the first receptor TK directly linked to human cancers, many MoAbs and SMPKIs and been developed and approved for EGFR/HER2/ErbB targeted therapies in many cancers. However, since most signalling pathways interact through extensive cross-talk with other pathways, the use of drugs that target a single pathway has shown limited success. After initial responsiveness patient tumours then become resistant or re-occur, as seen with some ErbB-targeted drugs and Gleevec targeting of Bcr-Abl. The authors showed that after initial success, the tumour cells developed a mechanism to circumvent the actions of these drugs, either by mutations (allelic adaptive changes) such that the drugs cannot bind catalytic domains or via by-passing that route in the cascade. As a result of this, back-up inhibitors and combination therapies have been developed. These therapeutics target several receptors and/or signalling pathways, thereby reducing the chance of drug resistance. Lapatinib, which targets both EGFR and HER2/neu receptors and Sunitinib/Sutent®, which targets PDGFR, VEGFR, c-kit and Flt3 are good examples of such drugs.

The future of targeted therapeutics will be based on multi-component drugs having combination effects since oncogenesis is a multi-genic, multi-stage process. New drugs being developed induce apoptosis in cancer stem cells to arrest cancer proliferation. However, with the increase use of structural and systems biology, and knowledge of the disease process, the development of many new drugs that target several processes in cell-cycle dysfunction/dysregulation will culminate in better treatment options and eventually a cure.

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Uterus Cancer Survival Rate

Saturday 10 September 2011

Given that uterine cancer is amongst those type of cancers that are easily detected, uterus cancer survival rates are also pretty agreeable for those who are treated at the earliest stage possible.

The womb or the uterus is an important part of being a woman. Some women may even tell you that having your uterus removed is like having half of your womanly essence taken off as well. Most uterine cancers arises in the endometrium or the inner lining of the uterus that's why sometimes this type is called endometrial cancer.

A 5 year uterus cancer survival rate refers to the ratio of people who are still alive 5 years after the diagnosis is confirmed to those who weren't able to survive the cancer at the same time period. Bear in mind that the patients are all treated with the cancer. Those who weren't treated may have a lower rate of survival as opposed to those who undergo treatment.

Uterine cancer may be a cause of early menopausal, therefore, most patients with cancer of the uterus detect the symptoms during the menopausal ages - around 45-50 years old. Because certain hormonal changes are affecting the emotional aspect of women at these times, some patients may prefer not hearing their uterus cancer survival rate.

But whether you want to hear it or not, the basic fact is that the earlier the cancer is detected, the higher the chance of surviving 5 more years as well. In fact, patients who had been treated starting stage 1 are likely to live 5 years. Their uterus cancer survival rate is up to 100%.

Luckily, a lot of patients are also diagnosed at stage 1, substantially increasing the over-all percentage of survival for all patients with cancer of the uterus. Patients may normally detect symptoms like unusual vaginal bleeding or discharge, some pelvic pain, dysuria or pain during sexual intercourse.

When the disease progresses into a more severe case, the rate of survival also decreases. At the time when the cancer also begins eating surrounding tissues and lymph nodes, the lower the likelihood of chemotherapy or radiation therapy to combat the progression, although it may help in slowing down the proliferation.

Patients who are diagnosed at the last stage have lower chances of making it to 5 years or more. This could be because most women, when they are diagnosed at this stage, immediately lose hope, thus making it impossible for them to have the courage to fight off the cancer. We highly discourage this because even at 25% survival rate, this is still a lot better compared to other types of cancers whose rate are as down as 4%.

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Growth Of Cancer Cells

Friday 9 September 2011

Cancer is a broad term for the irregular development of cells. Generally a human body is a huge compilation of cells, and also all human bodies comprising 23 pairs of chromosomes. Imagine if we see each pair of chromosome, there we can find a duplicate gyrate of the DNA molecule, the hereditary design for life. DNA is the tester to verify and communicator of the heredity-designed distinctiveness in the chromosomes we acquire from our birth and transfer it to our children. Any abnormal growth of normal cells, in region of the body, or organs or in any tissues is called a cancerous growth.

Cancerous growth are of two types, such as benign and malignant. Benign type cancers are easily removable and treatable, on the other hand malignant tumors cannot be removed or cured completely. Radiation is the better method to cure cancer nowadays.

In our body, the maroons of DNA called chromosomes carry many numerous of divergent messages that state the human body of about how it should give development, operate and perform. One of the DNA piece informs our digestive system how to create gastric juice; and some other gene determines the glands to secrete this juice when food lands in the stomach. Some different genes colorize the human eyes, influence hurt cells how to ameliorate those cells, as well as point the feminine breasts to create milk later a child is born.

Nearly all the time these genes, these sort of genes serve the right way and transfer the exact pass ons and so we can live with good enough health and all the organs perform their optimal work, despite there are an improbable number of genetic fragments called genes and they transfer numerous messages, as well as the chromosomes develop once all time if a cell splits up and there are lots of occurrences for something to go wrong. As though the immense number of "wrongs" that happen while the process of reproduction or due to the harm by outside causes are repaired e through the body, on certain occasions it is unknown that it goes wrong while cell division - an alteration process that modifies one or more of the genes. A regular type of cancer cell that has an deviant chromosome from its genetic modification or injured state. The changed gene commences to transfer the error transmissions or it may transfer a message that is distinct from what it should send.

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Colorectal Cancer Survival Rate

Tuesday 6 September 2011

In the United States, the colorectal cancer survival rate is more agreeable amongst female patients than males. Whether the female patient is from Caucasian or African decent, the colorectal cancer survival rate is around 65%, a tad ten percent higher than their male counterparts whose rate of survival ranges from 53-55% only.

A 5 year colorectal cancer survival rate refers to the number or percentage of people who remain living 5 years after the disease was determined and treated. What most researchers do is go through all the records of cancer patients diagnosed with this type of cancer 5 years ago and count the ratio of those who are alive now to those who have been deceased as a result of the cancer.

According to the relative report released by emedtv for the research they conducted from the year 1996-2002, the colorectal cancer survival rate at:

• Stage 1 is around 90%. The main reason behind this is the same as the reason why most patients during this stage have good prognosis - the disease has not yet spread and is easily controlled by removing the affected part. In the case of cancer of the colon and rectum, the patient will undergo resection of the colon to remove the segment affected with the disease and reconnect the cut ends afterwards.

• Stage 2 and 3 is around 68%. Despite treatment, the rate is still pretty low because the disease has proliferated at this time. The basic fact about cancer is - the wider the spread, the more difficult to eradicate it. Common treatments at this stage are surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Although they may help in detaining or slowing the progression of the disease, it may still develop.

• Stage 4 is around 10%. Around 20 percent of all colorectal cancer patients are diagnosed at the last stage. This is a concern of many medical practitioners thus frequent campaigns to increase cancer awareness have become a mission of most cancer societies. Once the cancer cells metastasize, it may heavily affect the most vital organs in our body including the kidneys, liver and spinal cord.

Colorectal cancer sure is a killer disease. Like any types of cancer, it will affect the richest and the poorest and will disregard your position or status in society. Healthy living is what medical practitioners always advise to combat this disease. With colorectal cancer, change in the diet plan is imperative.

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Colorectal Cancer Survival Rate

Uterine Cancer Survival Rate

Friday 2 September 2011

A Uterine Cancer Survival Rate is measured based on a large scale of people with the same condition/disease. Patients must bear in mind that no two cases are alike and the results of the studies, although reliable, may not accurately be the same with yours.

A Uterine Cancer Survival Rate is the average percentage of the patient to extend their lives up to 5 years soon after the diagnosis is confirmed. This doesn't mean that all of those who participated in the survey had the same chances. Some of them actually lived more than 5 or 10 years despite the cancer.

The earlier the cancer is detected, the better the prognosis and the higher the Uterine Cancer Survival Rate. This is true not just for uterine cancer but to most cancers. If your doctor told you that you only have 50% chances to live, this could mean two things - in a five-year period, you may live less than 2 and a half year or more than that.

There has been a study reporting that uterine cancer is more common to African American than to Caucasian American. Uterine Cancer Survival Rate is also quite higher among the latter than the former.

In a five-year period:

Caucasian Women have about 86% survival percentage.

African American Women have about 61% survival percentage.

Although the reason isn't exactly established, the researchers believed that it has something to do with the higher number of pregnancies (gravida) of African American women compared to their Caucasian counterparts. Food choices and lifestyle preferences are also somewhat related to this issue.

In most cancer cases, the earlier the stage, the higher the survival rate. At stage 0 or 1, the cancer survival rate is at its highest at 96%. When the cancer reaches stage 2 or 3, expect a lower rate of survival at 66%. This will drastically lower at the last stage when the cancer has spread out to other organs of the body such as the ovaries, the intestines, liver and etc. At the stage 4, the survival percentage may just be as low as 25 percent which in a 5-year period is technically just around a year and some months.

Fortunately, most uterine cancer cases are detected as early as stage 1, when the cancer has not yet proliferated and it's easier to remove. Only around 16% of the patients are diagnosed when the cancer is already at its 3rd stage and a lower number is diagnosed at the 4th stage. Therefore, treatment may still be able to help the patient survive up to 5 years of more.

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Uterine Cancer Survival Rate Of Detail

Skin Cancer - Melanoma

Thursday 1 September 2011

Malignant melanoma is the rarest and most deadly form of skin cancer. It affects the melanocytes (the cells that produce melanin, the skin's pigment) and seems to be more prevalent among city-dwellers than among those who work outside. This seeming paradox is because scientific data indicates that episodic sun exposure resulting in burn is linked to melanoma, but constant exposure is not.

Melanoma does not necessarily occur in sun-exposed areas of the body which contributes to the belief that it is linked to brief, intense periods of sun exposure and a history of severe sunburn in childhood or adolescence.

Melanoma is a form of skin cancer that metastasizes easily making it often fatal if not treated early enough. Bear in mind, however, that all statistics of melanoma come from tissue that has been examined after some form of excisional treatment or biopsy. Melanoma becomes more common with increasing age but it still appears in younger people.

A melanoma can develop in any area of the skin or from an existing mole. A typical melanoma appears as a small darkened area of skin similar in appearance to a mole. It is recognisable as being different to a mole in four different ways known as the ABCDE of melanoma: Asymmetry, Border, Color, Diameter, Evolving.

Asymmetry: Most early melanomas are asymmetrical: a line through the middle would not create matching halves. Common moles are round and symmetrical.

Border: The edges of melanomas are often uneven and may have scalloped, notched, or blurred edges. A mole has a smooth, well-defined edge.

Color: The pigmentation of a melanoma is often not uniform, with more than one shade of brown, tan, or black. Moles are usually a single shade of brown

Diameter:
A melanoma is usually larger than a mole, continues to grow and is often at least the size of a pencil eraser (about 6mm, or 1/4 inch, in diameter).

Evolving: Change in size, shape and color shade.

Types of Melanoma

Melanomas are described according to their appearance and behavior. Those that start off as flat patches (i.e. have a horizontal growth phase) include:

* Superficial spreading melanoma (SSM)
* Lentigo malignant melanoma (sun damaged skin of face, scalp and neck)
* Acral lentiginous melanoma (on soles of feet, palms of hands or under the nails - under the nails is called subungual melanoma)

Melanoma skin cancers tend to grow slowly, but at any time, they may begin to thicken or develop a nodule. When this happens they progress to a vertical growth phase.

Melanomas that grow quickly, involving deeper tissues, include:

* Nodular melanoma (presenting as a rapidly enlarging lump)
* Mucosal melanoma (arising on lips, eyelids, vulva, penis, anus)
* Desmoplastic melanoma (fibrous tumour with a tendency to grow down nerves) Melanoma may present in combinations e.g. nodular melanoma developing within a superficial spreading melanoma.

Treatment of Melanoma

Usual protocol for the treatment of melanoma is:

Biopsy to confirm.

Surgical removal with wide margins encompassing healthy tissue to ensure complete removal.

Surgical removal of lymph nodes if their involvement is suspected.

There are natural options. I have used them and seen them used on many people. The natural treatment of melanoma and other skin cancer is viable and effective. I have written a book outlining my experiences of using a herbal paste with bloodroot as one of the main ingredients. I do not sell a product, I merely present the information so that people have a source of information and can be self-informed enough to have the confidence to make their own decision.

From my own experiences and also from seeing the results on other people I can assure you that these herbs work and they work profoundly.

I hope the researched information as well as the personal experiences in my e-book may be of assistance to anyone searching for natural methods of treatment for skin cancer.

My e-book is called "How to treat Skin Cancer Naturally". Click on the link below to find out more about the book.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: I am a qualified medical herbalist and have studied the use of herbs for the treatment of skin cancer in depth. My e-book "How to Treat Skin Cancer Naturally" gives you the specific herbs to use for skin cancer.

What you get in this book:

- descriptions of the main skin cancers

- the possible risks of biopsy

- fully referenced and supported by scientific studies

- in depth case studies, including my own personal experience with a family member

- and I outline exactly how some important herbs work to kill skin cancer.

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Free Cancer Information
 

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