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Abstract: Cancer Watch May 2000
Among the highlights are:Mismatch DNA Repair in Cancer; Proliferative Activity (Ki-67), p27 and Estrogen Receptors in Invasive Ductal Mammary Carcinomas; Progesterone Modulates Angiogenesis in Ovarian Epithelial Tumors; The New Tumor Marker M2-PK; Soluble Urokinase Plasminogen Activator Receptor in Primary Breast Cancer; Monoclonal Antibody for Cancer Therapy; Inhibition of Bone Resorption Relieves Bone Cancer Pain; Treatment for Adrenopause with DHEA; Overcoming Cisplatin Resistance; Comparison of Chemotherapy Dose for Metastatic Breast Cancer; Chemotherapeutic Drugs; is Mega-dose Better; Blood Stem Cells are Better for Transplantation; Hereditary Ovarian Cancer Patients Survive Longer than the Nonhereditary Patients; Endometrial Cancer and Postoperative Radiotherapy; Stereotactic Biopsy Technique; Annual Report from the NCI on Cancer Incidence and Death Rates; The Doctor-Patient Relationship: A Delicate Balance.
News in Brief
- Mismatch DNA Repair in Cancer
- Proliferative Activity (Ki-67), p27 and Estrogen Receptors in Invasive Ductal Mammary Carcinomas
- Progesterone Modulates Angiogenesis in Ovarian Epithelial Tumors
- The New Tumor Marker M2-PK
- Soluble Urokinase Plasminogen Activator Receptor in Primary Breast Cancer
Monoclonal Antibody for Cancer Therapy
- One of the mechanisms in antibody-mediated cancer therapy is the binding of the variable region of the protein to the cell surface receptor molecules. It is now known that the constant region of the antibody may recruit effector cells by recognizing receptor molecules on their surface. By modulating the Fc (constant domain of the antibody) and its receptor interaction, antibody-induced potency can be improved.
Inhibition of Bone Resorption Relieves Bone Cancer Pain
- The active ingredients in marijuana may have inhibitory effects on brain cancer cell. This effect is mediated by increased accumulation of lipid ceramide in nerve cells triggering apoptosis.
Treatment for Adrenopause with DHEA
- The sex hormones secreted by the adrenal glands are diminished leading to impairment of certain physiological functions in the elderly. In women, but not in men, 70 years and older, supplementation with an adrenal steroid improves these physiological conditions.
Overcoming Cisplatin Resistance
- Cisplatin has become a widely used anticancer agent; its cytotoxicity is based on the ability to crosslink DNA. High-mobility-group domain proteins are specifically attracted by hydrophobic cell structures and might mediate the antitumor efficacy of cisplatin. Eventually, cisplatin-resistance develops and is, at least in part, caused by increased nucleotide excision repair (NER) which interferes with the apoptotic pathway. Novel platinum compounds with increased hydrophobicity are being developed and show improved antitumor efficacy.
Comparison of Chemotherapy Dose for Metastatic Breast Cancer
- For metastatic breast cancer patients, high-dose chemotherapy together with stem-cell transplantation does not improve overall survival rate compared to conventional-dose chemotherapy. Additionally, patients treated with aggressive therapy experience severe adverse side effects.
Chemotherapeutic Drugs; is Mega-dose Better
- Maximum tolerated does of drugs may be beneficial in certain cases of cancer. However, when therapy is halted in order to allow recovery from adverse side effects, the endothelial cells may recover faster and subsequently support tumor growth. A sustained administration of low-dose chemotherapeutics over a period of time seems to prevent new blood vessel formation at tumor site, thus reducing tumor cell survival
Blood Stem Cells are Better for Transplantation
- Stem cells for transplantation in cancer patients can be obtained from bone marrow or peripheral blood. Stem cells obtained from peripheral blood seem to repopulate faster than those obtained from the marrow.
Hereditary Ovarian Cancer Patients Survive Longer than the Nonhereditary Patients
- Advanced-stage hereditary ovarian cancer patients with germline mutation of BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene survive longer than the sporadic cancer patients. This may be because the BRCA-mutated cancer cells respond well to chemotherapeutic agents that act by damaging DNA. Further, the underlying biological properties of the hereditary disease may cause the cells to grow slowly.
Endometrial Cancer and Postoperative Radiotherapy
- Though postoperative radiotherapy improves local recurrence of stage I endometrial cancer in patients, it does not prevent distal metastases or improve life expectancy. Since treatment-related adverse effects are more in radiotherapy treated patients, this treatment is not indicated in such cases.
Stereotactic Biopsy Technique
- Stereotactic biopsy instrument with various gauze needles can be used to collect abnormal tissue specimen for histologic analysis. This procedure is less invasive than open surgery, can be performed in one step under local anesthesia outside of operating room. Advanced devices can excise abnormal breast tissue along with surrounding margin of normal tissue that is usually performed by excisional biopsy
Annual Report from the NCI on Cancer Incidence and Death Rates
- According to a new report, the rate of cancer incidence for all cancer combined as well as that for most of the top 10 cancer sites declined between 1990 and 1997 in the US.
The Doctor-Patient Relationship: A Delicate Balance
John A. Kellen, M.D., Ph.D.
- Once a health care provider accepts a patient with bilateral consent, it is understood in an unwritten contract that the patient will be treated according to the "state of the art". The latter is not carved in stone and necessarily changes with time; unfortunately, it is also the source of innumerable legal actions which abound in our litigatious society. It is almost as if Americans think of death as optional; this denial is understandable in a materialistic, consumers’ society. A physician is expected to provide a correct diagnosis, expert and successful treatment, offer consolation and support and generally have God-like powers - which reasonable, mature doctors do not claim to have (perhaps with the exception of surgeons, tongue-in-cheek!). Needless to emphasize that with all the tremendous progress in medicine during the second half of the 20th century, the majority of environmental, behavioral and inherited health problems have not yet been solved and the gap between the patient’s understanding of these problems and the extent of communication and education from the medical profession is widening. .
Glossary
- A glossary of unfamiliar words and jargons in Cancer Watch, May 2000.
Redesigned and updated: June 04, 2000
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