The cancer stem cell theory hypothesizes that tumors or cancers arise from mutations or epigenetic changes in normal stem cells. These mutated or genetically altered stem cells possess the properties of the normal stem cells such as the ability to self-renew, differentiate into any type of body cell, and resist apoptosis. Hence, the cancer stem cells (CSC) are named so. It is also suggested that because of the above-mentioned properties of the cancer stem cells, the current anti-cancer therapies are not entirely successful (Gil et al, 2008). Despite surgery and other therapies, even if very few of these cancer stem cells survive, they can continue to act as a source for more tumors, even though the therapies eliminate all visible signs …show more content…
Some strategies that can be used to target the cancer stem cells:
1) Stem cells possess markers that are different from the differentiated cells. One method can be to develop treatments that target only the cancer stem cells and not the healthy differentiated cells.
2) Investigate to find markers that distinguish between cancer stem cells and healthy stem cells.
3) Prevent self-renewal of the stem cells within the tumor mass: Targeting proteins that regulate the cell cycle in the cells of the tumor mass can be a potential strategy to prevent the self-renewal of the cancer stem cells. Bao et al (2006) reported that proteins involved in regulating cell cycle, especially at the checkpoints play an important role in determining the CSC resistance to radiotherapy. This is because radiotherapy leads to DNA damage, which activates the checkpoint proteins and increases their expression. In vivo and in vitro studies have shown that inhibition of checkpoint proteins such as Chk1 and Chk2 decrease the radiotherapy resistance ability of the brain stem cells that were previously radiotherapy resistant (Gil et al, 2008). This strategy coupled with radiotherapy and/or elimination of the tumor mass by surgery can potentially prevent relapse of cancer.
Tumor progression or cancer development in humans takes decades to develop because this process requires multiple insults like mutations and epigenetic changes in the DNA. These changes
In order to become cancerous a cell has many molecular changes that can occur including: tumor suppressor gene inactivation, oncogene activation, telomerase lengthening, ability to evade apoptosis, and angiogenesis (Mechanisms in Medicine, 2012). There are a few particular
Many doctors, physicians, researchers and biotech companies--including the revolutionary Seattle Genetics research facility--are now turning to antibody-assisted cancer treatments and precisely targeted cures instead of treating cancer with a cocktail of chemicals and radiation that generate risky side effects and damage the healthy tissue that patients need to recover. Cancers are among the most frightening and difficult-to-treat illnesses. Ranked as the leading cause of death and disability, cancer is actually an umbrella term that covers many different diseases. Each person faces a unique disease because cancers interact with the body's existing cells, so each case has a
Cancer is described as the abnormal growth of cells. Normal cells are replaced with abnormal cells in which their deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) has been damaged or augmented (McCance & Huether, 2014). Cancer cells with their various DNA changes are characterized by growing uncontrollably, being immortal with an unlimited lifespan
The concept of neurogenesis being confined to the embryonic stage became less obvious with the onset of discovery of neural stem cells maintained in two distinct regions of the mammalian adult brain namely dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampus and the sub ventricular zone (SVZ) of the forebrain lateral ventricles14,18,19. What makes these neural stem cells a more credible target for oncogenic transformation? The continual presence of undifferentiated, mitotically active, self renewable stem cells at the apex of the hierarchy bundled in discrete germinal niches in the mammalian brain throughout the lifespan of an organism allows them to accumulate mutations, thus rendering them vulnerable for neoplastic reprogramming. There has been increasing evidence that the genetic and epigenetic mechanisms that initiate and maintain the NSC developmental state are possibly deregulated in GB to emerge as Glioma initiating cells or Brain tumor stem cells20. The discovery of BTSC has high clinical significance in the neuro-oncology field, as evidenced by major diverse roles it plays in various aspects of tumor growth such as tumor initiation, maintenance, progression, angiogenesis and tumor recurrence owing to therapeutic resistance, some of which are described
Biography Charlie Parker was a legendary Grammy Award–winning jazz saxophonist. Charlie Parker was born on August 29, 1920 in Kansas City, Kansas. He died on March 12, 1955. He died at the age of 34 Manhattan, New York City, NY. Charlie Parker played the alto saxophone and tenor saxophone.
Have you ever wondered how cancer forms? Well, cancer starts when a cell's DNA becomes
Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that have the ability to become many different cell types by the process of mitosis and differentiation. Due to this unique property, many scientists are keen to researching and working with these cells. Furthermore, Stem cell is one of the most potential gates to curing diseases and developing new technologies.
With the hopes of curing the patient’s afflictions, these newly grown cells would then be transplanted into the patient. With this approach come major problems such as the formation of tumours, which is caused by the distinguishing trait of stem cells. Because stem cells are able to divide for an unlimited amount of time, it has been found that the cells will not know when to stop dividing and they will continue to divide even after being transplanted into the patient (Herold 48). This form of treatment is counterproductive, as uncontrollable cell division will produce tumours and potentially cause cancer, which is one of the ailments that stem cell research promises to cure.
Scientists need to know that all the stem cells completely change into the tissue to avoid negative side effects, like tumors, when the cells are implanted in patients. Scientists also try to experimentally treat diseases with no cure with stem cells by implanting them into animal models, like mice (Freedman 13).
May be a treatment for many cancers because doctors will be able to remove the organs affected by cancers and then use the patient's own stem cells to regrow their organ.
Percentage of stem cells in these tumors may be related to reccurence and late reccurences.
The ability to manipulate the stem cell corresponding to a specific organ/tissue remains important. A type of stem cell that can be manipulated is the embryonic stem cell. These stem cells descend from embryos aging from three to five days (Watt) (Driskell). During earlier stages, scientists describe embryonic stem cells as “blastocysts” which contain over one-hundred and fifty cells (Watt) (Driskell). They duplicate into more cells or transform to any cell located in the body (Watt) (Driskell). This “duplication” allows embryonic stem cells to regenerate and repair diseased tissues. Embryonic stem cells gain importance in cancer treatments—if doctors diagnose patients with leukemia, then during chemotherapy, the doctor can infuse embryonic stem cells into the body. Since the cells are young, they can repair the targeted cell, aiding cancer treatments and the patient. In addition, this technique is used with another type of embryonic stem cell called “pluripotent stem cells”. Pluripotent stem cells originate as inner mast cells (cells
The effects of marijuana have been examined in several studies that focused on long-term structural differences, cognitive impairments, prenatal risks and neural functioning deficits. Long-term structural abnormalities include reductions in the volume of the hippocampus, amygdala and nucleus accumbens, where these structures also exhibited changes in density and shape. Participants in several studies showed impairment in memory, learning, concentration, coordination, as well as decreased motivation. Marijuana has addictive properties and has dramatically increased in potency over the last decade, which has led to an increase in marijuana-related fatal car accidents and to an increase in emergency room visits. On the contrary, the non-psychoactive
Human life starts from a fertilized cell which breaks down, again and again, an adult human body is composed of the abundance of cells and each one have their own specific function to perform. During adulthood, most of the cell does not duplicate except some cells continue to divide to replace the old or damaged cell in blood, skin and intestine. This growth is very controlled and no excessive cell growth takes place. But sometimes when a mutation occurs in one or more genes which causes unnecessary cell reproduction and as a conclusion, there is no control over the growth of cells. It is called malignant transformation and this is the starting of cancer (Hosick et al., 2015). There are many different types of cancer but the early stage diagnosis
The concentrated ore must be converted into a form which is suitable for reduction. Usually the sulphide ore is converted to oxide before reduction. Oxides are easier to reduce (for the reason see box). Thus isolation of metals from concentrated ore involves two major steps , they are: