APPROACHES TO CANCER CURE!

As we are moving forward to cancer cure, one realizes several facts

1.  Translational research reveals to us that Medical science is too much compartmentalized.
- Our biologists focus on giving us Molecular basis, chemistry basis to various organelles and even smaller molecules important in the patho-physiology, homeostasis, metabolism at cell level.
- Our Biotech and /or pharmaceutical companies focus on taking this information and developing localized therapeutic targets.  They operate under significant stress to be first and patented!
- Clinical researcher take these  target therapy into clinical trials
- Our Medical Oncologists await the results of clinical trial to use the drug and formulate patterns of treatments based on experience on broader population (Phase IV post market tracking).

At each step, necessary check and balances occur, but it is also true that information is lost, diluted or missed.  This slows down translational research results' implementation. An integrated approach will allow for faster pace of implementation.  We need a TRANSLATIONAL  ONCOLOGY CLINIC WHERE ALL GROUPS WILL SIT TOGETHER AND PRIORITIZE THE THINGS TO DO!

2. Cure is not going to be the same for every cancer.   The reason is in some cancers there are DRIVER Oncogenes, in others, there are DRIVER Pathways.  At least so far, evidence seems to suggest that the success in targeting steps in pathways seems more promising in hematologic malignancies then in treatment of solid tumors.  This impression may change as we move forward.  We are now seeing response rates of 70+ percent in lung cancer when the right driver oncogene is disabled.  This is new!

3. One of the major clinical differences between a basal cell cancer of the skin and  Melanoma is in their ability to spread and multiply.  And one cannot talk about multiplication without looking at events in the Podosomes where actin, paxillin, cortactin and integrin B are main events.  We are reviewing the literature to see what has been accomplished with these potential targets!  Many pathways start in the Podosome and a whole lot of Enzymes are also here!

4. ACTIN (closely liked to 2nd law) is the core of the cell Cytoskeleton and the nervous system of the cell.
What types of Microfilaments/Microtubule/Actin exist,  can some anti-Actin work better than others...? Its relationship with metabolism and physiology of CA++/Calmodulin?  This is important stuff for Brain tumors!
We are working hard at CRBCM!

STUDY OF GENETIC PREDISPOSITION TO CANCER.

Human genome has been uncovered, and laboratories can now give us our genomes quickly.  What took years to develop is now readily available.  Pretty soon we are all going to have a credit card/ID with our genome on it.  Already, scientists are working at studying the patterns of DNA as they relate to disease development.  It will soon become obligatory to write the patient's genome sequence to support the diagnosis doctors give to their patients before insurance will pay for the drug.
For Colon cancer, people will be swallowing disposable cameras to detect early masses.  Colonoscopies will be things of the past (it will be indicated just for biopsies of masses seen on cameras).  Hemocult test as we know it, will be replaced by gene detection on the stool sample.
Presence of Mismatch repair gene, APC gene, loss of 5q,18q,17q,8q (these numbers are not random, this is how cancer evolves from a normal cell to a cancer cell in Colon cancer).  If a stool sample gives you a 8q, you know pretty much this man or woman has more likely the cancer, based on the current model of colon cancer genetic evolution.
In families with many cancers, comparing sequences of genes of family members is now being further improved.  Who actually develops the cancer and who stays safe, is being mapped to see the differences that triggered cancer development (phylogenetics).  As we are uncovering DRIVER ONCOGENES, our treatment will be computer generated.  No one will be able to remember all the genes and their heterogeneous presentations.
We got to face this,  our future is to have a Gene Card for ID.  There is no Doctor who will know all the gene abnormalities, so the first thing you do when you enter the medical office is to hand over your gene card.  We put it in a READER and we have your disease, real, or tendencies and all potential treatments you may benefit from.  Drs will be there to hold your hand and give you some additional comforting advice.
Our infectious disease specialist will be giving a prescription  with the genes of the infectious agent spelled out, with the likely Antibiotic to give.   Science is moving forward, let's embrace it!