Wow! Amy Lee? Who knew?
Posted on 11/25/2008 8:35:18 AM PST by Main Street
There is a new breakthrough in search for prostate cancer treatment. Following three years of study, University of Southern California researchers have found a way to halt the spread of prostate cancer. Suppression of the GRP78 protein, a genetic biomarker of aggressive prostate cancer, leads researchers to what they consider a "breakthrough" in cancer research. Amy Lee, professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, the study's principal investigator, says, "This research has far-reaching implications in a wide range for human cancers,"
GRP78 contributes to the spread of prostate cancer. It protects tumors, and prevents cancer cells from dying. The human gene, phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), inhibits abnormal tissue growth; preventing tumors. PTEN is lost in the presence of the GRP78 protein.
First author of the study, Yong Fu, a Ph.D, in conjunction with Ph.D. candidates Shiuan Wey, Miao Wang, Risheng Ye and Chun-Peng Liao and Pradip Roy-Burman, professor of pathology, biochemistry and molecular biology at the Keck School spent three years studying the effects of PTEN and GRP78 on prostate cancer. They found that they could halt the spread prostate cancer by blocking the effect of GRP78 in lab mice that were genetically engineered with both of the genes suppressed. Dr. Lee says, "With the recent advances in identifying agents that suppress GRP78 expression, anti-GRP78 therapy may open up an entirely new approach to stop human cancer."
Dr. Lee says, "To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration that inactivation of a specific molecular chaperone from the mouse prostate epithelial cells can potently block prostate cancer." The researchers believe their study has a wide range of possibilities for treating other types of cancers in humans.
Prostate cancer develops in stages. GRP78 has been identified as a crucial element that promotes tumorous cell growth, contributing to advanced disease. Prostate cancer is the most common cause of cancer in men, often producing no symptoms in its early stages. Focus has been geared toward prevention through screening and dietary interventions. Current treatment options for prostate cancer include surgery, radiation, hormone therapy and active surveillance for the development of symptoms.
Targeted therapy that can stop the spread of prostate cancer, by inactivating genetic proteins, is an entirely new and promising cancer treatment approach.
I am fighting PC now. I hope someone/group finds a way to slow it down.
BTT
Molecular Biology to the rescue PING!
..BPH, cancer, the little guy can be a real pain...
Prayers to you devan617. I too hope they are able to put this into an effective treatment option soon so you can have assistance in the fight.
I wish you the best! Prayers up!
I turn 60 in 10 months; already I’m worried.
Research for cures will likely come to a halt or at least slow way down once health care is nationalized. The government will be calling the shots as to what will be researched.
Hopefully, the therapy wouldn’t include radiation or chemo. That’s painful and dangerous to the patient.
My prayers for your recovery, devane.
Fight On!! :-)
Wow! Amy Lee? Who knew?
I am sorry to hear of your condition. Here’s a source of information that may help: http://www.lef.org/protocols/prtcl-138.shtml
At the very least, it should help you to become more knowledgable, to improve your ability to challenge your doc to really do his best for you. Some of the nutrients mentioned (and on sale) there may also help a bit.
Best wishes for a quick and complete recovery.
Prayers up!
2 survivors
Cancer is a horrible disease and this is good and hopeful news. It can hit anyone at any time and I pray we can learn enough to tame it. I just lost my dog to prostate cancer a few weeks ago. Cancer broke my heart.
You know, I think that she has the potential to be a very, very talented prostate therapist. http://menshealth.about.com/cs/prostatehealth/a/ejaculate_ptate.htm
Sorry, I couldn’t resist.
Anyhow, even if such therapy doesn’t work, at least it is more enjoyable than most of what docs recommend that you do.
Call me whacked, but stop eating dead animals and dairy. Eat life, not death. Sprouts etc.=life, steak etc.=death. Stop putting death into your body. Blunt yes.
Life Extension Foundation has excellent research.shalom b'SHEM Yah'shua HaMashiach AdonaiThis is one example:
That ain't whacked but it is difficult to do for some of us. I agree with it philosophically , but in practice I fall short.
A vegetarian lifestyle is probably healthy in a general sense, though you have to be VERY careful about shortages of certain nutrients. Vegetarians generally don’t live any longer than those that eat meat. As with anything else, moderation is the key.
Want to extend your life? Avoid cigarettes, too much saturated fat, being overweight, getting excess sugar, too much alcohol, exercise for about 20-30 minutes per day, visit the doctor every couple of years, take a decent multivitamin, and make sure to do your best to avoid accidents. Works for both vegetarians and meat-eaters alike.
Oh, and I’ll take some nice, healthy prostate therapy as well.
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