Posted on 01/21/2005 4:30:24 PM PST by Main Street
Edited on 01/21/2005 4:58:27 PM PST by Admin Moderator. [history]
A CLUE CALLED 'POKEMON'
Scientists identify a single 'master' gene that seems to turn on cancer-causing action of other errant genes
FRONT PAGE.
An international team of scientists believes it has found cancer's master switch with the discovery of a gene they dubbed ``Pokemon.''
Like the electronic game figures -- tiny monsters with bad tempers -- the cancer-triggering gene apparently instigates the misbehavior of other cancer-causing genes, leading to tumor formation.
In Thursday's issue of the journal Nature, researchers at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in Manhattan, in collaboration with teams in Japan and Britain, announced that the gene plays a key role in starting a malignancy. As a result, scientists now believe they have stumbled upon an important new target for an anti-cancer drug.
Dr. Carlos Cardon-Cardo, a molecular pathologist at the cancer center and a senior author of the research, defined Pokemon as an oncogene, which means it is capable of causing cancer. Dozens of oncogenes have been discovered over the past 25 years. But unlike the others, Cardon-Cardo said Pokemon has a governing role: It is needed for other genes to function. Eliminate Pokemon, he said, and you stop the activity of other cancer-causing genes.
``This is the master switch that interacts with other genes,'' Cardon-Cardo said. ``It acts differently than other oncogenes. Others regulate cell growth, but Pokemon impacts on critical properties of cancer cells.''
Among those key properties, Pokemon enhances a cancer cell's ability to resist aging and death. This immortalizing factor essentially endows cancer cells with a Peter Pan-like quality that renders them robust indefinitely, the very trait that makes tumors difficult to treat.
Dr. Pier Paolo Pandolfi, the study's lead investigator, said even though Pokemon shares a name with imaginary figures, whimsy was never intended. ``This is very serious and the name was serendipitous, pure serendipity,'' Pandolfi said. Pokemon stands for POK erythroid myeloid ontogenic factor.
FYI
Then you should know there are oncologists (maybe not where you worked though) that give their heart and soul in the treatment of the terminally ill and desire to see them cured or healed, not prolonged for the sake of money.
Just experienced.
I just read an article on FR that beer does that.
two weeks shy of 13. It was not a happy birthday : (
I'm very sorry for your loss....what a tragedy. I don't know how I'd cope if I lost either of my daughters.
How very sad...your mother must be a very strong woman. It seems doubly unfair what she has had to endure.
I hate this disease too!
Wow, am sorry for your loss. I can't even imagine...
As encouraging as this medical research is, it ought to be noted that it isn't a "cure for cancer". I think that it was posted misleading.
What did he have? Sorry for your loss.
Ty for your kind words. Every step is an important step in finding a way to rid ourselves of this horrible disease. However misleading the headline, this discovery does sound promising....they may now be able to spend more time focusing in more rewarding results. That, at least, is my prayer.
I have had doubts about the medical profession too. A few hunderd years ago these were the folks that were cutting large holes in people's skulls to let out evil spirits. I have often wondered what people living 200 years from now will say about our current methods of treating cancer. My first wife passed away from cancer at age 45 in 1985, one of the drugs they were treating her with was approved in 1951 (5-fu) and is still in use today. My current wife has had cancer for going on 4 years including 3 brain tumors. The treatments she has had are light years ahead of the 1985 treatments. The current chemo drug she is taking was approved 2 months ago (Altima). She has had 12 different chemo drugs. A total of 48 chemotherapy treatments and 57 radiation treatments. From my small corner it appears that oncologist and pharmacuticals have made a lot of progress since 1985. I have the utmost respect for all the oncology Drs and nurses that I have met, they are fighting a monster. I read somewhere that within 10 years cancer will be treated just like high blood pressure, daily maintenance drugs. Meanwhile I thank God that my wife is still living, I am also thankful for insurance. SF
Tarantulas, very astute of you to catch those "odd" names. I googled and found that one of the "funniest" ones, Dr. Pier Paolo Pandolfi, apparently is for real. You can see some info here:
Molecular & Developmental Biology
http://www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/10345.cfm
Right, they always try to keep the carrot out there to get more tax dollars. Can't blame you for your criticism.
And here's another article, from Dr. Koop site:
http://www.drkoop.com/newsdetail/93/523500.html
....Now, scientists say they've identified a kind of "kingpin" gene that rules this gang of delinquent DNA.
"It's the 'leader of the pack,' and in that sense, it's a very effective target for therapy," said senior study author Dr. Pier Paolo Pandolfi, a pathologist at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City....
If it weren't for the Theory of Evolution we would never have gotten this far.
My Dad often told a story of his science class in the 1930s at the University of Arkansas. The professor asked, “Who knows what electricity is?” One guy raised his hand, and the professor had him stand up and asked, “Well, tell us all. What is it.” The student stammered and then said, “Uh, I forgot”.
The professor retorted, “You forgot? Too bad because only you and God knew what it was and you forgot!”.
lol
I found out the reason for the thread title as it was first posted; the sourced article is linked off Drudge; Drudge is the one creating the hysteria.
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