Early detection of cancer by an advanced method using tiny customised DNA rings was developed by India-born physician-scientist Sanjiv Sam Gambhir and his colleagues.
Stanford University School of Medicine investigators inserted tiny DNA rings into the genes of mice, which caused cancer cells to emit a substance that could be detected from a blood sample.
Laryngeal Cancer
Laryngeal cancer is also called cancer of the larynx or throat cancer or laryngeal carcinoma. It usually affects men over the age of 55 years.
Advertisement
A blood-detectable biomarker is encoded in the DNA rings, and can enter both healthy cells and cancer cells. But only cancer cells follow the steps to make the biomarker.
"The challenge for those kinds of biomarkers is that they're rarely very specific and often not made in sufficient quantities," Sanjiv Sam Gambhir, professor and chair of radiology and director of the Canary Centre at Stanford for Cancer Early Detection, said.
![Breast Cancer during Pregnancy]( "Breast Cancer during Pregnancy")
Management of breast cancer during pregnancy or pregnancy associated breast cancer requires special consideration to avoid harm to the fetus.
The scientists, by a blood test, showed a marker that was detected 48 hours after the mice with tumours produced. This marker was not produced the mice that did not have the tumour.
The DNA minicircles are comprised of tiny rings of DNA and turn on the cell's machinery to make RNA. The RNA makes a protein, which then serves as a cancer biomarker. Embryonic alkaline phosphatase (SEAP) is the marker in this case.
Gambhir said, "We want to translate this strategy into humans, so we've set it up in a way that's most likely to be effective, safe and convenient".
He added, "Although the minicircles were injected intravenously to the mice in this study, it should eventually prove possible to deliver them orally via a pill. We haven't got it down to a pill yet, but the oral delivery part of this is likely a solvable problem only a few years off, not five or 10 years off."
Gambhir cautioned that it would take much more time than that to prove that the approach was safe to use in humans, though.
Source: Medindia
Breast Cancer during Pregnancy
Management of breast cancer during pregnancy or pregnancy associated breast cancer requires special consideration to avoid harm to the fetus.
Advertisement
The scientists, by a blood test, showed a marker that was detected 48 hours after the mice with tumours produced. This marker was not produced the mice that did not have the tumour.
The DNA minicircles are comprised of tiny rings of DNA and turn on the cell's machinery to make RNA. The RNA makes a protein, which then serves as a cancer biomarker. Embryonic alkaline phosphatase (SEAP) is the marker in this case.
Gambhir said, "We want to translate this strategy into humans, so we've set it up in a way that's most likely to be effective, safe and convenient".
He added, "Although the minicircles were injected intravenously to the mice in this study, it should eventually prove possible to deliver them orally via a pill. We haven't got it down to a pill yet, but the oral delivery part of this is likely a solvable problem only a few years off, not five or 10 years off."
Gambhir cautioned that it would take much more time than that to prove that the approach was safe to use in humans, though.
Source: Medindia
Cancers of the Ear / Ear Cancers
Skin cancer is the most common type of ear cancer. Cancer of the ear canal can be cured if limited to the canal and diagnosed early. The canal, eardrum, and hearing bones may need removal.
Advertisement
 World Cancer Day 2015: Not Beyond UsWorld Cancer Day (WCD) is observed on 4th February every year to sensitize communities and governments about cancer. | Advertisement
|
Advertisement
Recommended Reading
Latest Cancer News
The mechanism by which the kinases cause inflammation has been discovered by scientists.
Pancreatic cancer cases are on the rise. The biomarker approach could reduce the chance of developing pancreatic cancer.
New combination of medications trametinib and entinostat were found to decrease lung cancer in mice.
Combination treatment with TALZENNA and XTANDI was found to benefit prostate cancer patients, revealed study.
In leukemia patients, reduced amounts of dietary vitamin A is associated with a higher risk and severity of pancreatitis.