When stem cells go bad

Stem cell research presents hope for people with serious diseases. During the last 10 years, billions of dollars have been spent on research and development using this type of research with the hope that the technology can discover the ultimate cure for cancer. Some research studies did show promising results.

However, recent reports also suggest that there are risks associated with stem cell therapy. So what can happen when stem cells go bad?

A case study reported in February (PLoS Med. 2009 Feb 17;6(2):e1000029) that a boy who was suffering from the neurodegenerative disease ataxia telangiectasia was injected with fetal neural stem cells in a clinic in Moscow. The stem cell therapy was performed three times when the patient was 9, 10 and 12 years old. When the patient was 13, researchers from an Israeli clinic detected some tumors in his brain and spinal cord. The tumors were removed surgically and upon examination, revealed some cells that did not originate from the patient. The researchers determined that the tumor cells came from at least two fetuses, most probably the source of the stem cells injected. According to the authors

“This is the first report of a human brain tumor complicating neural stem cell therapy. The findings here suggest that neuronal stem/progenitor cells may be involved in gliomagenesis and provide the first example of a donor-derived brain tumor. Further work is urgently needed to assess the safety of these therapies.”

A commentary in Nature says that the report may serve as a “cautionary tale” about the appropriate techniques of isolating and culturing stem cells before being used for therapy.

In another study, researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) found that the childhood brain tumor medulloblastoma may originate from normal stem cells in the brain that have gone bad. The stems cells are normally harmless but can “turn malignant when acted on by a known mutant, cancer-causing oncogene.” This knowledge gives insight into the origins of brain tumor that can be used in new approaches for targeting brain tumor.

Medulloblastomas, usually diagnosed in children between 2 and 5 years of age, affect the brains cerebellum region, which is involved in controlling body movements. They make up about 30 percent of childhood brain tumors, and account for 250 to 300 new cases per year. With current treatments, approximately 60 to 70 percent of patients live at least five years, but often they are left with cognitive disabilities from surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, urgently suggesting a need for new, more-selective therapies.

Photo credit: cancer cells University of Birmingham

               

Is white coat hypertension for real?

Are you a white-coat hypertensive?

White-coat hypertension is a type of blood pressure (BP) problem that occurs only when BP is measured in a clinical setting, e.g. by health professional in a “white coat”. However, BP measured at home or in another environment stays normal. Unlike “real” hypertension, white-coat hypertension has always been dismissed as harmless and psychosomatic in nature. This led to white-coat hypertensives being ignored as hypochrondriacs who do not need any therapy.

Recent studies, however, indicate that white coat hypertension may actually be a real blood pressure disorder with the similar dangers and risks as chronic hypertension.

A study by Glasgow researchers showed that white-coat hypertensives have similar cardiovascular abnormalities as chronic hypertensives. These abnormalities include reduced elasticity of the arterial walls and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction.

According to these researchers,

“these early changes may precede systolic dysfunction and, ultimately, the development of cardiac failure.”

A more recent study by Italian researchers also indicates that this type of hypertension has similar vascular impact as the other more dreaded type pf hypertension and may induce atherosclerosis of the carotid arteries.

The Italian researchers measured 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure in 74 patients with grade I hypertension during a normal working day. The patients were young adults aged 18 to 45 years old.

After 5 years of follow-up, the researchers observed that the carotid arteries of these white coat hypertensive patients were thicker than their counterparts with normal blood pressure.

“…the patients’ average carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) increased 3.4-fold, and significantly more than the corresponding increase in 20 normotensive controls.”

Some experts think that white-coat hypertension may be a form of stress-reactive hypertension. Some patients, for example, have different blood pressure measurements depending on environmental conditions, not necessarily in relation to the presence of a health care professional. There is also a form of hypertension that manifests only during office hours in people with normal blood pressure during daytime non-working hours.

Whatever the mechanisms are behind this fluctuation in BP, white coat hypertension has been linked to progression of atherosclerosis and left ventricular mass.”

The treatment of white coat hypertensive hasn’t always been clearly defined. In many cases, it was taken as a harmless condition which does not require any form of anti-hypertensive therapy. The patients are spared of the cost of health care as well as the unnecessary side effects of hypertensive drugs.

Researchers, however, argue that

“…white-coat hypertensives should not be regarded as having a benign condition, because it may increase susceptibility to vascular complications early in life.”

They recommend that early intervention using drug therapy may delay or prevent the development of cardiovascular complications that may prove life-threatening.

Photo credit

               

Friday Cancer News, June 6, 2008

Friday again.

Perhaps the most exciting cancer news comes out of M.D. Anderson regarding Metformin and cancer response. Metformin is the most common drug prescribed for Type 2 diabetes. It was observed that patients using Metformin had a lower cancer incidence. Findings are preliminary and M.D. Anderson will soon begin a clinical trial with Metformin and hormonal therapy studying metastatic breast cancer patients who are obese. Read the complete article at Science Daily.

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Friday Cancer News, May 30, 2008

Friday. Friday. Friday is my favorite day.

Cancer Events:

Marie Curie Cancer Care is sponsoring the Skimmington Castle Bike Ride. “An exciting fun filled cycle challenge, Saturday, June 7 in the beautiful surroundings of the Surrey countryside.Cyclists will set off from the Skimmington Castle public House in Reigate, either on the 47.5 mile route, for those who fancy a challenge, or the 16.5 mile route for those who feel they’d like the day to take a more leisurely pace.

Once you have completed the bike ride you will end up back at the Skimmington Castle pub for a chance to exchange stories over a well earned drink.”

Father’s Day Ride and Stride. Sunday June 15, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania.

“This Father’s Day, honor Dad and support the fight against prostate cancer. Bring your family and enjoy a morning of fun at beautiful North Park, while supporting Pittsburgh’s leading organizations in the fight to defeat prostate cancer— the Allegheny General Prostate Center and the Western Pennsylvania Prostate Cancer Foundation (WPPCF). This event will include a 25K, 50K and 100K bike ride and a 2 mile fun walk. Choose either as your weapon to fight against prostate cancer and a way to celebrate Father’s Day with loved ones. We’re taking aim against this deadly disease.”

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Friday Cancer News, March 21, 2008

I’ve scoured the headlines to bring you the latest cancer news– what’s new in science and entertainment.

Cephalon wins U.S. Approval For Leukemia Drug

Washington (Reuters)-March, 20, 2008. Cephalon Inc won U.S. approval to sell a chemotherapy drug to treat patients with a slow-growing type of leukemia, the company said, on Thursday.

Study Details the Sexual and Urinary Side Effects of Prostate Cancer

Atlanta (AP)-March 20, 2008. One of the first large quality-of-life studies on today’s prostate cancer treatments suggests that for some men, it’s a matter of picking your poison and facing potential sexual, urinary or other problems.

Possible Cause of ‘Chemo Brain’ in Breast Cancer Patients Found

ScienceDaily-March 20, 2008. Thanks to early diagnosis and chemotherapy, more women survive breast cancer than ever before. However, following treatment, approximately 25 percent of survivors experience mild to moderate memory, concentration and cognitive problems known as “chemobrain.”

Serious Weakness Found in Virus Responsible for Most Cervical Cancer

ScienceDaily-March 20, 2008. The virus responsible for most cases of cervical cancer has a serious weakness which may provide hope for new treatments for the disease.

Autoantibody Assay May Lead to Earlier Detection of Lung Cancer

Oncolink (Reuters Health)-March 19, 2008. Screening for lung cancer with a panel of tumor- associated antigens may someday permit earlier detection of tumors, researchers report in the March issue of Thorax.

One Gene Closer to Understanding Pancreatic Cancer: A conversation with Dr. Terri Brentnall

The New York Times-March 18, 2008. Dr. Terri Brentnall, 51, at the University of Washington, has identified a gene that may be one cause of an inherited form of pancreatic cancer.

Testicular Cancer: Tumor Markers Under Utilized for Monitoring Disease According to New Research

Cancer News, University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center-March 18, 2008. A standard part of testicular cancer care isn’t used in more than half of all patients who have the condition, researchers at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center have found.

Red Meat Consumption Linked to Colorectal Cancer

Cancer News, M.D. Anderson News Release, March 3, 2008. For most Americans, meals tend to center around meat. To significantly decrease a person’s risks of developing colorectal cancer experts at The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center suggest a new approach to meal planning that focuses more on fruit and vegetable dishes.

Never Give In: Battling Cancer in the Senate by Arlen Specter with Frank J. Scaturro (Memoir, Thomas Dunne Books,March 18, 2008). The inspirational memoir of a cancer survivor and a U.S. senator.

The Last Beach Bungalow by Jennie Nash (Fiction, Penguin Group, February 2008). “A poignant novel of a woman who survives breast cancer only to struggle with what comes next: living.”

One in Three: A Son’s Journey Into the History and Science of Cancer by Adam Wishart (Memoir, Grove Press, January 2008) A British journalist’s journey into his father’s cancer and the medical community.

               

For the Bibliophile

Friday I’ll be giving away three books donated to the site by gracious authors, publicists and/or donors. All that is necessary for a chance to win, is to post a comment with a way to reach you. Winners will be chosen by random.

1. If Only In My Dreams by Wendy Markham. Best selling author, Wendy Markham a.k.a. New York Times best selling author, Wendy Corsi Staub is a busy writer, not only does she write women’s fiction as Wendy Markham, but she writes bestselling mystery/thrillers as Wendy Corsi Staub. Along with her young adult books she is releasing a new young adult paranormal series set in the Lily Dale spiritualist community of southern Western New York.

From Booklist. “Clara McCallum finally gets her big break as an actress when she’s cast as the romantic lead in a World War II-era epic, but the good news is accompanied by a frightening diagnosis of breast cancer. Though her doctor tells her it’s treatable, Clara can’t bring herself to tell those close to her and instead opts to go forth with filming. Her decision has unforeseen consequences when she boards a train for the set and ends up in New York in 1941 and meets the real-life Jed Landry, the soldier her character falls in love with in the movie. When Clara finds herself falling for Jed in the past, she’s torn between saving his life and returning to the future to undergo treatments to save her own. ”

From Publisher’s Weekly. “The fantastic setup is balanced with convincing period details and strong characters, and the story’s conclusion is unexpectedly real and refreshing. ”

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Cancer in the News

CANCER HEADLINE NEWS:

Traditional Medicine: Identifying Potential Cancer Treatments of Herbal Origin (Science Daily March 5, 2008)

Arsenic Aids Tumor Imaging When Joined to Cancer-honing Drug, Researchers Find (Science Daily March5, 2008)

Breast Cancer Risk Lingered Years After Women Discontinued Estrogen-Progestin Therapy, Stanford Researchers Says

(Business Wire March 5, 2008

Gemcitabine plus chemoradiation of small benefit for resected pancreatic cancer (Oncolink.com March 4, 2008)

Shared Care Improves Long-term Follow-up for Childhood Cancer Survivors (CancerConsultants.com March 4, 2008)

Flat colon Growths more likely to Harbor Cancer … (msnbc.msn.com March 4, 2008)

Newly Identified Genetic Variations May Affect Breast Cancer Risk (National Cancer Institute March 3, 2008)

Lights at Night Are Linked to Breast Cancer (The Washington Post February 20, 2008)

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