Cancer Spreading Enzyme

[FilboFox]

I know that many won't find this all that interesting but considering I've lost 2 grandparents to cancer in the last 3 weeks, I thought I'd put it up anyhow.

The BBC article is basically saying that scientists have found the enzyme which helps cancer spread from the original starting point around the rest of the body. Because of this, they think that they'll possibly be able to develop a drug of some sort to stop this from happening, hopefully meaning a greater chance of isolating the cancer and beating it. So all in all, I thought it to be a very good piece of news that is encouraging in the fight to defeat the bastard thing that is cancer...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7813072.stm

Enzyme behind cancer spread found

Scientists say they have identified an enzyme that helps cancer spread around the body. Cancer metastasis, where the cancer spreads from its original location, is known to be responsible for 90% of cancer-related deaths.

Institute of Cancer Research scientists have found that an enzyme called LOX is crucial in promoting metastasis, Cancer Cell journal reports. Drugs to block this enzyme's action could keep cancer at bay, they hope. The researchers studied breast cancer in mice, but are confident that their findings will apply to humans with other cancer types too.

LOX (lysyl oxidase) works by sending out signals to prepare a new area of the body for the cancer to set up a camp. Without this preparation process the new environment would be too hostile for the cancer to grow.

Lead researcher Dr Janine Erler described the discovery as "the crucial missing piece in the jigsaw that scientists have been searching for." She said it was the first time one key enzyme has been identified as responsible for effectively allowing the cancer to spread. "If we can interrupt the body's ability to prepare new locations for the cancer to spread to, we can effectively prevent cancer metastasis. "Cancer metastasis is very difficult to treat and this new discovery provides real hope that we can develop a drug which will fight the spreading of cancer," she said.

Dr Julie Sharp, Cancer Research UK's science information manager, said: "A better understanding of how cancer spreads is crucial to improving the treatment of the disease. This research takes scientists a step closer to understanding this major problem - the next stage will be to find out if the LOX protein can be switched off to stop cancer spreading."

[Thracian]

I know that many won't find this all that interesting but considering I've lost 2 grandparents to cancer in the last 3 weeks, I thought I'd put it up anyhow.

The BBC article is basically saying that scientists have found the enzyme which helps cancer spread from the original starting point around the rest of the body. Because of this, they think that they'll possibly be able to develop a drug of some sort to stop this from happening, hopefully meaning a greater chance of isolating the cancer and beating it. So all in all, I thought it to be a very good piece of news that is encouraging in the fight to defeat the bastard thing that is cancer...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7813072.stm

Enzyme behind cancer spread found

Scientists say they have identified an enzyme that helps cancer spread around the body. Cancer metastasis, where the cancer spreads from its original location, is known to be responsible for 90% of cancer-related deaths.

Institute of Cancer Research scientists have found that an enzyme called LOX is crucial in promoting metastasis, Cancer Cell journal reports. Drugs to block this enzyme's action could keep cancer at bay, they hope. The researchers studied breast cancer in mice, but are confident that their findings will apply to humans with other cancer types too.

LOX (lysyl oxidase) works by sending out signals to prepare a new area of the body for the cancer to set up a camp. Without this preparation process the new environment would be too hostile for the cancer to grow.

Lead researcher Dr Janine Erler described the discovery as "the crucial missing piece in the jigsaw that scientists have been searching for." She said it was the first time one key enzyme has been identified as responsible for effectively allowing the cancer to spread. "If we can interrupt the body's ability to prepare new locations for the cancer to spread to, we can effectively prevent cancer metastasis. "Cancer metastasis is very difficult to treat and this new discovery provides real hope that we can develop a drug which will fight the spreading of cancer," she said.

Dr Julie Sharp, Cancer Research UK's science information manager, said: "A better understanding of how cancer spreads is crucial to improving the treatment of the disease. This research takes scientists a step closer to understanding this major problem - the next stage will be to find out if the LOX protein can be switched off to stop cancer spreading."

It is interesting and encouraging. Barely a month goes by without another announcement of progress being made on the cancer front.

Unfortunately they all seem to end with the note that it is all in the research stage and it will be a while yet before anyone benefits.

While it all serves to encourage funding I just wish they'd cut the PR and talk to us when they turn hope into achievement. Cos cancer still seems to be winning by a distance right now and cancer treatments still seem pretty tortuous and ineffective from what people have said to me.

[Jon the Hat]

It is interesting and encouraging. Barely a month goes by without another announcement of progress being made on the cancer front.

Unfortunately they all seem to end with the note that it is all in the research stage and it will be a while yet before anyone benefits.

While it all serves to encourage funding I just wish they'd cut the PR and talk to us when they turn hope into achievement. Cos cancer still seems to be winning by a distance right now and cancer treatments still seem pretty tortuous and ineffective from what people have said to me.

We have a system whereby we encourage competing firms and organisations to develop drugs. The PR side is a result of that, and to honest I think an acceptable side effect of what is probably the best approach.

[cisono]

We have a system whereby we encourage competing firms and organisations to develop drugs. The PR side is a result of that, and to honest I think an acceptable side effect of what is probably the best approach.

It is all about developing drugs then? So a person can live one week longer or whatever. Great way of measuring success ...

How about avoiding the cancer in the first place?

[Finnegan]

How about avoiding the cancer in the first place?

Good point.

Thanks Cisono, you've changed my life forever.

Never again will I live near a road, or a signal tower, own a car, a mobile phone, a microwave or a telly. Never again will I masturbate, drink, smoke, have sex, come into contact with asbestos, passive smoke, carbon monoxide.

I will never be x-rayed, I will never eat meat, I will live off nothing but coffee and grapes making sure that less than 20% of my calory count is from fats, I will snort vitamins, pre-emptively have my testes removed, wrap myself in hemp and live in a cave in Skara Brae and live a long and cancer free life.

Until I die of scurvy.

[Lillehamring]

warming news, indeed.

whilst not a cure for cancer, it seems like it could potentially reduce most or some cancers to a managable illness. similar, i guess, to the treatment of such past uncurable killers such as TB etc.

has to be a very significant step in the right direction.

[Alexikokopops]

Good point.

Thanks Cisono, you've changed my life forever.

Never again will I live near a road, or a signal tower, own a car, a mobile phone, a microwave or a telly. Never again will I masturbate, drink, smoke, have sex, come into contact with asbestos, passive smoke, carbon monoxide.

I will never be x-rayed, I will never eat meat, I will live off nothing but coffee and grapes making sure that less than 20% of my calory count is from fats, I will snort vitamins, pre-emptively have my testes removed, wrap myself in hemp and live in a cave in Skara Brae and live a long and cancer free life.

Until I die of scurvy.

I love you. You responded with exactly how I felt but expressed it infinitely better.

[James.]

I love you. You responded with exactly how I felt but expressed it infinitely better.

Ditto.

Apart from the love bit.

[lavrentis]

I love you. You responded with exactly how I felt but expressed it infinitely better.

I agree with both these sentiments.

[Guest]

Ditto.

Apart from the love bit.

Ditto.

But reinstating the love bit.

[Thracian]

It is all about developing drugs then? So a person can live one week longer or whatever. Great way of measuring success ...

How about avoiding the cancer in the first place?

Here, here. I seem to hear so little about what is causing so many cancers and what we are going to do about it. Unfortunately, and as usual when something might be unpalatable, I get the feeling that far more is known about the causes but no-one wants to either admit it to the public or to do what's necessary to improve the situation.

Even with smoking, action has been slow in coming and is, even now, only half-hearted. We know too that vehicle emissions are harmful yet have been so slow to develop clean vehicles.

Far more research still is needed into the causes of cancer and much more resolve is needed in trying to prevent it.

[Finnegan]

I love you. You responded with exactly how I felt but expressed it infinitely better.

Ditto.

Apart from the love bit.

I agree with both these sentiments.

Ditto.

But reinstating the love bit.

I won't lie. I enjoyed writing that post.

[Alexikokopops]

It is all about developing drugs then? So a person can live one week longer or whatever. Great way of measuring success ...

How about avoiding the cancer in the first place?

Here, here. I seem to hear so little about what is causing so many cancers and what we are going to do about it. Unfortunately, and as usual when something might be unpalatable, I get the feeling that far more is known about the causes but no-one wants to either admit it to the public or to do what's necessary to improve the situation.

Even with smoking, action has been slow in coming and is, even now, only half-hearted. We know too that vehicle emissions are harmful yet have been so slow to develop clean vehicles.

Far more research still is needed into the causes of cancer and much more resolve is needed in trying to prevent it.

We could set up a crack force called the Cancer Police to stop people doing things that cause cancer. You two can be in charge of the masturbation division if you want.

[Finnegan]

Here, here. I seem to hear so little about what is causing so many cancers and what we are going to do about it. Unfortunately, and as usual when something might be unpalatable, I get the feeling that far more is known about the causes but no-one wants to either admit it to the public or to do what's necessary to improve the situation.

Even with smoking, action has been slow in coming and is, even now, only half-hearted. We know too that vehicle emissions are harmful yet have been so slow to develop clean vehicles.

Far more research still is needed into the causes of cancer and much more resolve is needed in trying to prevent it.

We could set up a crack force called the Cancer Police to stop people doing things that cause cancer. You two can be in charge of the masturbation division if you want.

Bags whatever division is confiscating all the booze.

[Flynny]

Here, here. I seem to hear so little about what is causing so many cancers and what we are going to do about it. Unfortunately, and as usual when something might be unpalatable, I get the feeling that far more is known about the causes but no-one wants to either admit it to the public or to do what's necessary to improve the situation.

Even with smoking, action has been slow in coming and is, even now, only half-hearted. We know too that vehicle emissions are harmful yet have been so slow to develop clean vehicles.

Far more research still is needed into the causes of cancer and much more resolve is needed in trying to prevent it.

I'm confused as to why you seem to think all the furore around smoking is for the best but drink-driving regulations are an infringement of civil liberties? I'd have it the other way around, personally. Treating smokers like pariahs is ludicrous.

[Thracian]

Here, here. I seem to hear so little about what is causing so many cancers and what we are going to do about it. Unfortunately, and as usual when something might be unpalatable, I get the feeling that far more is known about the causes but no-one wants to either admit it to the public or to do what's necessary to improve the situation.

Even with smoking, action has been slow in coming and is, even now, only half-hearted. We know too that vehicle emissions are harmful yet have been so slow to develop clean vehicles.

Far more research still is needed into the causes of cancer and much more resolve is needed in trying to prevent it.

We could set up a crack force called the Cancer Police to stop people doing things that cause cancer. You two can be in charge of the masturbation division if you want.

Ah but....

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3072021.stm

[Dr The Singh]

Ah but....

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3072021.stm

I can see why prostate cancer is so low within Foxestalk!!!!!

[Alexikokopops]

Ah but....

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3072021.stm

Which proves the point I was trying to make. It's a fanciful idea to believe we should be out stopping cancer at teh root of the problem rather than looking for cures when everything is linked to causing it. I just searched for "grapefruit cancer link bbc" on Google and this popped up. I did the same with another random selection and got this. You've given an example of wanking going from good to bad, mobile phones were once thought bad but are fine.

I think I've just descended on a rant about news stories which claim everything is linked to some kind of disease. Like this one. It even says in the story about a possible "association between napping and reduced physical activity", yet they give it a stupid headline which could lead people to believe that just having a afternoon nap is going to be the cause of you getting diabeties. Rar

[Thracian]

Which proves the point I was trying to make. It's a fanciful idea to believe we should be out stopping cancer at teh root of the problem rather than looking for cures when everything is linked to causing it. I just searched for "grapefruit cancer link bbc" on Google and this popped up. I did the same with another random selection and got this. You've given an example of wanking going from good to bad, mobile phones were once thought bad but are fine.

I think I've just descended on a rant about news stories which claim everything is linked to some kind of disease. Like this one. It even says in the story about a possible "association between napping and reduced physical activity", yet they give it a stupid headline which could lead people to believe that just having a afternoon nap is going to be the cause of you getting diabeties. Rar

Because a problem is complex doesn't mean you shouldn't try to find answers.

Even accepting that we are living longer, there seems to have been an explosion of cancer cases to the point where a huge proportion of the population are becoming ill.

We need to not only find why this is but also why others don't succumb because while drugs may alleviate pain or slow the progress of disease and prolong life, they don't seem to represent a cure. At least not for the relatives I've lost.

[The People's Hero]

This is a bit heavy for FoxesTalk isn't it?

[Jon the Hat]

Right. So rather than focus on Cancer, which it may be possible to come up with a blanket cure for, we should spread our resources thinly and investigate the millions of things which we have now but didn't have 100 years ago to see which ones might casue it? FFS. Think about what you are saying folks.

[Lillehamring]

This is a bit heavy for FoxesTalk isn't it?

yeah, but within less than a page we've managed to turn it into a thread on wanking

[Bellend Sebastian]

When I was at university a doctor told me to masturbate more often. This was after he'd stuck his hand up my arse to examine my prostate, which I really cannot recommend.

Do you think I should have questioned his credentials?

[Alexikokopops]

Because a problem is complex doesn't mean you shouldn't try to find answers.

Even accepting that we are living longer, there seems to have been an explosion of cancer cases to the point where a huge proportion of the population are becoming ill.

We need to not only find why this is but also why others don't succumb because while drugs may alleviate pain or slow the progress of disease and prolong life, they don't seem to represent a cure. At least not for the relatives I've lost.

But they are trying to find answers Pharmaceutical companies are looking for cures, researchers (such as Nottingham University here) are searching for the reasons why it happens. I don't understand why the two can't happen simultaneously You seem to be saying we should search for the answers to the complex problem of the cause of cancer yet poo poo the idea of searching for answers to the complex problem of a cure for cancer.

Oh, and I'm not sure where you're getting this explosion of cancer cases from

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7893158.stm

[Thracian]

I'm confused as to why you seem to think all the furore around smoking is for the best but drink-driving regulations are an infringement of civil liberties? I'd have it the other way around, personally. Treating smokers like pariahs is ludicrous.

But it's not what I think at all. I was describing what the actual approach to smoking has been like, not whether I agree with it.

In fact, and on several occasions, I've made it clear that the treatment of smokers has caused huge problems with smokers feeling victimised and depressed as a result.

The changes made have been ill thought out and, in many ways, counter-productive despite the fact that, individually, I loathe cigarette smoke and have to get away from it.

Regarding drink-driving of course it's a curb on civil liberty (just as the smoking legislation is) but I don't know that civil liberties is the thing I'd focus on because roads are places where you need civil co-operation and a reasonable level of competence just like pubs are places where there are the effects on other people to consider.