Posted on 04/13/2009 4:47:43 AM PDT by Schnucki
A drop of blood or speck of tissue no bigger than a full stop could soon be all that is required to diagnose cancers and assess their response to treatment, research suggests.
New technology that allows cancer proteins to be analysed in tiny samples could spell the end of surgical biopsies, which involve removing lumps of tissue, often under general anaesthetic.
Researchers at Stanford University, California, have developed a machine that separates cancer-associated proteins by means of their electric charge, which varies according to modifications on the protein’s surface.
Antibodies, immune system agents that bind to specific molecules, are then used to identify the relative amounts and positions of different proteins. The technique was able to detect varying levels of activity of common cancer genes in human lymphoma samples and even distinguish between different lymphoma types.
The researchers said that the same system could be used to monitor cancer treatment more quickly and easily. Although the study focused on blood cancers, scientists also hope to apply the technique to solid tumours and are currently testing the technique on head and neck tumours.
Dean Felsher, from the university, said: “Not only can we detect picogram levels — one trillionth of a gram — of protein, but we can also see very subtle changes in the ways the protein is modified.”
The researchers, who reported their findings online in the journal Nature Medicine, were able to confirm the anti-cancer effect of a cholesterolreducing statin drug on one lymphoma patient. “This is the first time we have been able to see that this compound affects the biology of cancer cells in patients,” Dr Felsher said.
Alice Fan, a clinical instructor in the division of oncology at Stanford’s medical school, said it could be a real advance in rapid tracking of tumour cells during
(Excerpt) Read more at timesonline.co.uk ...
Thank you for the post.
Fascinating technology. Only trouble is in the UK, once the cancer has been detected patients there will likely be denied treatment from their Socialized medicine bureaucrats.....
Thanks for posting this.
1. Always read just the adjectives in the first three sentences first...then decide whether or not you want to continue reading (you'd be surprised how little objective reporting there is anymore).
2. Any time you see a sentence proclaiming something good that uses the word "may"...always construct the same sentence with the words "may not"...then you'll have a better picture of the facts.
Haven't failed me yet.
A great improvement over biopsies because of the growing threat of lethal infections in our hospitals. The farther away from a hospital you can stay, the better.
Could, could, could ... may, may, may ... might ... soon ... someday ...
Non-news. “Can” and “is” is news.
I have a close friend who has been engaged in his own cancer research project and is a Doctor of Naturopathy. He has shared with me several conclusions after some 20 years of research:
1. Any kind of cancer dies in the presence of any kind of sulfur, so a good preventive measure is to take MSM (MethtylSulfonylMethane, an organic form of sulfur usually taken for joint problems) according to its labeled instructions.
2. Cancer depends on glucose alone for nutrition, so glucose deprivation kills cancer cells. However one wants to conduct a program of glucose deprivation is up to him or her, but one effective way is a five-day fast. After three days, the body goes into what is called “ketosis,” after which it stops nagging you to you eat food and begins digesting the stores kept in fat cells. This process delivers nutrition to the healthy cells, but there is no glucose in the mix, and after 24 - 40 hours all cancer cells will have died.
This is posted FYI only and is something you and you alone can decide to try if you need to do so, and it won’t hurt anything - beyond the discomfort of fasting. There are other benefits; I’ve done the five-day fasting thing, and it gets easier each time. But I do it for control of both blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and it works. This of course confounds my doctor - he doesn’t believe in it.
NOTE: If you’re diabetic, DON’T. It would lead to a hypoglycemic crash. But in any case the MSM as a preventive measure is a wise choice regardless of whether you have cancer.
Not sure that would be a good choice for me. I'm allergic to sulfa based drugs.
Science trumps speculation: MMR not linked to autism
American Medical News | April 6, 2009 | Staff Editorial
Posted on 04/12/2009 8:19:47 PM PDT by neverdem
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2227817/posts
I’m not sure sulfa-based drugs and sulfur are the same. According to what I’ve read, sulfa refers to sulfanomide, which is sulfur and nitrogen linked together.
I’ve never heard of anyone being allergic to organic sulfur, but it’s certainly possible.
Thanks.
Bookmark. Cancer fast idea. Mind, I don’t have cancer. Going to go knock on some wood now. Thanx Marauder.
Nanofluidic proteomic assay for serial analysis of oncoprotein activation in clinical specimensSee, any kid who turned in a paper with that title would either get an A++, or be in the principal's office regarding academic plagiarism. ;') Thanks nd.
You’re welcome, Carilisa. The guy I mentioned is retired and isn’t looking to capitalize on his “discovery,” but is genuinely interested in lowering the cancer death rate. I put “discovery” in quote marks because this “secret” goes all the way back to Old Testament days.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.