Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Striking Facts

*Mutation of BRAF has been seen in all cases of Hairy cell Leukemia
Is that mean that Cladribine  and Pendostatin need to be used in BRAF positive Melanoma
or is this a different BRAF

The opposite is it true? should we use dabrafenib in Hairy cell Leukemia

Are they localized Mutations that differentiate the 2 types of BRAF Mutations...

*As it stands,  CLL treatment include
-FCR
-Chlorambucil +/- Rituxan (or Ofatumumab/Obinutuzumab), R-CHOP
-Alentuzumab
-Rituxan Bendamustine
-Idelalisib, the anti PI3K
- CARTs targeting CD19

Friday, March 25, 2016

Today's GIST

1. Standard treatment
is Imatinib for 3 years for patient with high risk of recurrence
those with Exon 11 in the KIT gene will respond the best

2.The 2nd line is Sunitinib
3.Those who resist these meds, well Regorafenib may work
check your FDA recommended list

More and capable Telescopes

when it comes to observing the Universe,  with our current means, comparison has been made that
we can only look from our stand points.   Briefly its like looking at a room from a "key Hole"
only more "Hobble Telescopes" are needed to look everywhere.   Let say the Batteries can also be improved to use Nuclear Batteries instead of the current which may last 30-40Years...More lasting Batteries are needed.
Same goes from genes, cellular Telescopes will be needed one day to map up the many interactions going on in the cell....

Thursday, March 24, 2016

Death Center

*There is nothing without substance
for smoke to exist there must be fire at origin
and since death is a phenomena, a death center must exist
so where is it in a human body
everyone including this author believe that it is in the Brain
It is irreversible, once launched or engaged.  No one survive it as if the "consensus" of all cells is to "remain dead" once the message is received.  One would speculate it could be in the lungs, however
hypoxia message needs to be received by the Brain for death to occur.
If you are falling from the sky or the skyscraper, you will be dead or unconscious prior to hitting the ground.  Once again your brain will give up first....
you can harvest any other organ but the brain so far...
The counter to this is now:  can we act directly on on the death center to avoid dying?
"are consensus genes" be considered involved in the death process.   Are people who live longer have mutations in the "consensus" genes.  Can we prove that intercellular communications  are involved in the death status.  Can we ultimately interfere with death?  block it for happening?   If really smoke assumes there is fire, the there are genes that directly cause a death state.   And if there are genes...

*With billions of suns in the Galaxy, it is almost impossible that there is no other life out there...
yet we will not know for one reason,  worlds are kept too far apart...the suns we can see (as stars) are too far away sometime 3 to 4 times the distance to our Sun.   No one can reach other sun's planet alive with our current vessels.   So we will not meet our cousins on other planets any time soon...but they are there wondering the same...denying their existence...is denying our own existence ...

Friday, March 18, 2016

Important Updates

*90 % of lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma have L265P
*Rituxan-EPOCH back into Burkitt lymphoma treatment
*the infamous S1 better than Gemzar in adjuvant treatment of resected Pancreatic cancers!
*BRAF Mutated colon cancer needs the famous "Kitchen sink" thrown to them-FOLFORINOX-Avastin

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Lets back up a bit

It is hard to imagine that as you are reading this, you are indeed traveling at 63,000 miles around the Sun but it is true.  We should be dizzy but of course there are things that keep us from dizziness, our relation to Earth which is steady, the Atmosphere that enclosed us and keeps us safe and of course respectable distance of other planets and moons that although changing but at controllable speed.  Yes you look up the friendly sky and Orion is moving at slow pace...to eventually disappear for months that we can not see it...from one particular location at least...
But the Mystery of life goes on...suffice is to say that what we know of the Universe is not controversial but at least understandable...It is however progressing and always expanding.  New fact has come up to change our understanding...scientists had noted an object the size of a "moon" beyond Pluto...the object was visible for a while than it  disappeared.   But after a "while", the object came back then left again in sight...than it dawned on them that the object was rotating around some planet beyond pluto.  while Earth is turning around the Sun on an orbit that takes it 365 days to complete, This planet could take 1 million years to complete its orbit?  Is this true?  I guess we are lucky to have seen it...Suffice is to say that this is challenging our current understanding of the "Universe"...
Are there more planets beyond...I strongly believe so...until we intersect with another sun's planets and there are billions of suns in the Universe...In our own Galaxy-The Milky way, there are millions of suns...
That brings up the second question
Around each sun, there are planets
and if there are suns it means they produce energy for their planets and there must be planets that enjoy the same circumstances and condition as Earth,  meaning there must be life somewhere else as true as we exist!   However, don't expect them yet...we do not have the mean to reach anybody...don't look for life in some clusters...It is there in the Universe but so far away we can't reach it yet...
let's however reorient our search, find a sun and its planets, then locate the planet with the closest similarity with conditions on Earth and voila !   Here are our distant cousins!   watch out, they may not like us....Distance keeps us apart...you may die before reaching there with our current means...

The Universe secret is kept by the current distance to anything...the sun to Earth is 93,000,000 Miles
but the distance to some portion of Orion is 3-4 times that.   It takes 8 minutes for the sun ray to reach us, and close to half an our for Orion to become Visible...Ladies and gentlemen, you will die before reaching any of those worlds...


Friday, March 11, 2016

Views on Colon Cancer Prevention

The frequency of occurrence of Colorectal Cancers is attracting the attention of Researchers
It seems though that the occurrence of Cancer in the Colon seems to be linked
to an inflammatory process that get out of hands.   A Cytokine storm seems to be involved
in the process.   The proof is there.   Most anti-inflammation medications seems to reduce the frequency of cancer occurrence (Aspirin, in the latest study).
should we monitor the NFkB gene pathway and amplification in colon cancer
we should surmise that error in early diagnosis of certain inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) leads to Colon cancers.    Meaning that improvement into the diagnosis of inflammatory bowel diseases would reduce the frequency of this cancer.
should a CRP (C-Reactive Protein) be included in the screening of Colorectal cancers
should increase of IL4 help in prevention of colon cancer  (stimulation of CD124)
also follow TRAF genes and IKKs

In a way should we inject high dose of IL4 to prevent Colorectal cancers?
Is partial Colectomy at 50 a viable prevention mechanism for Colorectal cancer? (how about in those with family hx or elevated CRP with IBD)

FROM ASCO:
"The benefit of Aspirin as a secondary prophylaxis in patients with resected Colorectal cancers appears to be linked to the presence of PIK3CA mutations (Liao)"

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

A second look

Can we disrupt this through the UPF-1
"
Nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) is a surveillance pathway that exists in all eukaryotes. Its main function is to reduce errors in gene expression by eliminating mRNA transcripts that contain premature stop codons.[1] Translation of these aberrant mRNAs could, in some cases, lead to deleterious gain-of-function or dominant-negative activity of the resulting proteins.[2]"

Can this have a major impact in Sarcoma?

Tuesday, March 1, 2016

It just follows therefore

It Just follow therefore that IDH-1 would be a Biomarker for use of
Temodar and 5-AZAcitadine or Decitabine for Gliobastoma
and may be adding Ifosfamide or Etoposide for Leukemia and sarcoma (Chondrosarcoma) that is positive for Mutant IDH-1.    (and wild type TET)

Monday, February 29, 2016

In life, All go in pathways

If you understands that life is hidden in pathways, you know half of the truth...and yes if you can touch A and B you may finally reach C and later on Z.   The price is really how much perspicacity you intend to put up....and how much surprises you intend to unveil!
The Brain is hidden in the skull, and lives of Oxygen and sugar (no transformation of fat here if any).  Therefore gene that intervene in Oxygenation and de-Oxygenation are critical.  A  little known gene called IDH-1 gene is important!
"The protein encoded by this gene is the NADP+-dependent isocitrate .... "Role of isocitrate dehydrogenase 1/2 (IDH 1/2) gene mutations in human tumors"."  wikipedia

This gene most found with the Mitochondria and probably the protosome intervene in the detoxification of the cell.  But why is this gene important in the all scheme of Brain cancer and leukemia.  The point is to ultimately find the connection of this gene with how much it is linked to expression of genes.  Indeed remember many gene messages are hidden by methylation.Well methylation is a phenomenon that is very NADP like or dependent phenomenon.   Therefore Methylation of genes within the Brain cell is very affected by IDH-1 gene mutation.   IDH-1 will involve Cytosine based molecules such as TET gene, the initiation point of Methylation/de-Methylation of genes...Just imagine if this happen in a Telomere (which affect aging)...the cell all of the sudden will have its   aging changed or tempered with.   This is happening in both Leukemia and Brain cancer...and may be certain Sarcomas.

Life is a continuum...Starting from particle before the atoms, How this is linked to planets and into the Universe remains a question that goes deep into the truth of life!

Temodar and 5 AZAcitidine works in these diseases...proof in the pudding....

Thursday, February 18, 2016

And it goes on

With millions of suns in our Gallaxy (the Milky way )chances are there could be
a earth like life comparable to ours.   But given the randomness of Circumstances that need to be met for our existence, the chance of finding other human beings remains remote.
Water, Oxygen and right composition of Oxygen based gazes need  to be gathered to lead to us like beings.
and why Dinosaurs did not return after the earth return to life,
because evolution occurs one way or the other given the circumstances?
So imagine one particular planet where Helium was the predominant gas,  the organism that will grow if any, may be the yellow man or green man that may result...or is it another dinosaur that will not survive even if we meet!   now come the question, should we meet at all?
I keep looking for now into Orion!

It gets complicated

from Myriad"Myriad’s newest companion diagnostic, myChoiceTM HRD, is an algorithmic measurement of three biomarkers associated with homologous recombination deficiency, combined with next-generation sequencing of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes in the tumor.  The three biomarkers, loss of heterozygosity (LOH), telomeric allelic imbalance (TAI), and large-scale state transitions (LST), have all been individually shown to be associated with BRCA1/2 deficiency.1"

Monday, February 15, 2016

Life Mysteries

Before you read this, take a moment to reflect about life as it is a mystery
Mystery in its being, extent, dimensions and even purpose ...The truth is in every which way
you look at it...the mystery of life goes on.
I was thinking about planets ...what is their purpose, are they "alive", why are they so many, do they still have some form life that we cannot define.
The distance to the sun, the distance between the planet, how far is "Pegasus" and the planets of Orion or Sirius etc...all this is measured in dimensions that are difficult to comprehend.  One thing is for sure, many have agreed that we are under the influence of the moon.  That our mood swings with it, that our ocean's wind changes with it...is there a message we are unable to understand...Is there a "pulse" to earth or other planets.   We know something wakes up Volcanoes or earth quakes but we still don't know what (and how to predict)...is earth a living being?
One thing for sure not only we do not pay attention enough to things around us (It took me over 50 years to start my interest in the stars) but also the secrets or mysteries of life is kept by many things including our lifespan.   When we look at life at planet level, 100 years is meaningless...we die before we can actually learn enough...even the batteries on the hubble Telescope last may be 30 years...They will die before we discover more...our best minds such as Einstein perished before greater revelations were made.  The mystery is preserved because a continuum is broken each time a researcher dies!
Are we not replacing our researchers?  yes we are but do they have the same fervor and caliber...that we can debate...the same goes when we look into genes,  researchers drop the ball sometime when they reach world recognition ...they sometimes just waste away...because of their age may be ...and the truth remains hidden....We have to keep on going...more mysteries await...

Sunday, January 24, 2016

Perspective III

Folks don't let it pass, right now today: "Mars, Venus,Mercury, Saturn, Jupiter" are in Alignment in over 10 years, a rare phenomena in our skies...wake up and smell the coffee...It's going away before you know it...whether you like it or not.   It brings to mind an interesting dimension...indeed if you are in the lign how can you see this alignment...  well you are not in ligne so you can see it...  Same goes when you are looking at the Milky Way, or Galaxy, when you are in it...How can you see the Galaxy we are in!!!?  Well you can....I went to Florida few weeks ago at NASA.   There a 3D movie from the H. Telescope took me into the deep skies...And all was done, I was conquered!   Jupiter is the big one and it is visible!!!   I feel so small...insignificant  but deep in my mind I remember "we can change the world" but can we change the Universe...I think we do by sending all the Telescope...now I am told the Radioisotope battery can last 30 years...what picture will be sent back in 10,15 years...love to be there to see it...Jupiter has few moons,  what are their effects on the ground...do they illuminate its nights, and why are they so many...These dimensions are still unknown to my knowledge...but tantalizing...

Saturday, January 23, 2016

perpective II

Folks  I say these events "stretch my mind"  it really does.  In fact it gets you tired and at the long run can get you depressed.  So your body defense mechanisms shut these things down.   You just forget about this and try to live your life.   And this makes life "livable".   We walk around "ignoring" major events in our surroundings immediate and extra-terrestrial.  Yes indeed, as you walk on the street, the sun continue to pull you in its travel, and Jupiter continue its walk around the sun and yet life continues whether you think about it or them (planets).   And since nothing is "still", the entire Galaxy must be moving around some other structure yet to be defined.   What we call Universe do exist.   Our shutting down to our surrounding actually protects us from having to worry about things.   Yes it would be heart breaking to always think we are going more than 60,000 miles /hour around the Sun.  Lets shut this down and comeback to earth...But on the other hand, this mechanism of shutting down things also affects us deeply as we become "shallow".   We don't think enough about things!  And we end up perceiving less.   Flying from one thing to another without depth...Say when you look at someone, you just say he is there and don't mind him, you stop looking at his eyes how deep his glance, what the color or his eyes, how log is his hair, the softness of his skin, what color is his cloth etc...you stopped deepening your thoughts about things and "shut these dimensions down that makes you human, an intelligent animal...So stop eluding the question and think about a dimension that is comfortable to your mind...you can go deep up or down...Downward, think of Human formed with systems, organs, and cells.  And within a cell, think of membranes, the Cytosol and the Nucleus, all formed by Molecules each with a function predetermined by their origin the DNA.   And each function make up the "human" functions and performances.   And each abnormality is encrypted.  This very thought will lead us to the construction of Medicine of tomorrow.   Yes Medicine of tomorrow will be completely "genetic".   Prepare ourselves to have a "gene" MicroChip.  Evidences have proven that what disease we have, are susceptible to and will develop in the future is encrypted in us, in our genes.   A Doctor will not do a thing without the exact knowledge of your genes.   We kept ignoring these facts and try to find a reason to escape this reality (cost of insurance, is it racial and so on) but cancer is pushing us to rethink this things.   Only targeting genes work efficiently.
How critical a gene makes the difference in outcome.   Discovering the PL-1 and Bruton (Activity of Ibrutinib) are a clear proof of the exercise.    Life tells us that things are not static...what happened when too much excitation of a receptor or lack thereof leads to is still understudy.   The constant persistance and performances of a living life continue to escape us...."don't shut down" now...

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Perspectives

After a long pause due to disease-Prostate Cancer
It is time to return to writing blogs or actually continuing the long reflexion on life we lead.
Already I should be frank by announcing that my mind was literally "stretched" by new reflection about life and its several dimension.  I am in my late 50s and yet never thought about these truths as I do lately.  And quite frankly, I should confess that I am humbled by the truth and appreciate life even more now as I am struggling with these realities.

The first reality is the existence of the SUN.
did you know or realize the sun is 1.3 million times larger the Earth.   Not double, not time 10, 100 or a 1000, but 1.3 Million times larger than Earth.   This thing is Huge!!!!   And to look to us as it does, it is over 90 millions miles away.   Folks if you try to go there with modern devices, you will die before reaching this "thing", and that assuming you are not "melted" prior.  This SUN is so far that the sunlight that reaches us is 8 minutes old by the time we are "illuminated".  Folks the persecution of my mind does not stop here.   We (on earth) turn around the sun, and complete a full circle in 12 months.  to do that the earth has to travel at over 60,000 miles/hour.   The Earth will live on is a speedy vehicle around the sun at speed which blows my mind (not invented bu human).   There are more news...this immense sun is not alone in the Milky way.  There are billion of suns in our galaxy (Milky way).  And then there are many galaxies to stretch this (your minds) even more.

There are realities that are even closer,   away from the sun another planet is massively big called
Jupiter...probably 100 times bigger if my math is correct.  Perhaps another larger planet is SATURN.
This one is intriguing because it might have just wiped out the people if any who used to live there...And don't get excited let me explain.   Saturn is the only planet with surrounding ring made of "dust".   This dust is made of particles of several size including some that have 1 kilometer size...these things are spinning around Saturn...second fact is that Saturn is not completely round...as if "hit" by something to change its shape...now if you go back to the disappearance of Dynosaurs, you found somewhere a "hit" theory where the earth was once completely covered by debris from a "hit" causing intense cold on earth...  Are these the same debris from hit on Saturn?
more mind stretching to come....

Thursday, March 26, 2015

Interlude

We are back
after Robotic surgery
and 12 days of Intubation
which has left us deconditioned
Physical therapy is working with us
now I can write again
but my signature is still hard
already the literature has piled up
science continue to progress

Friday, February 6, 2015

Articles review

*Daratumumab added action to Revlimid and Decadron in Myeloma we are told!
*New important pathway :  The PLK1 disturbing spindle cell assemby...
*Blinatumomab, beneficial in refractory B cell precursor ALL....
*Potentiation of T cell  tumor recognition (of neoplastic transformation)
by  1.   Anti-CTLA4-----Ipilimumab
      2.   Anti-PD1----PEMBRO
      3.   CAR-T cell therapy
*Volarsetib in AML for older patient (research)
*Adding Everolimus to Taxol-Herceptin failed to increase disease free survival.   But it did in Her-2 negative patient......in front line!   a 7 months improvement was reported (20 Vs 13 months).  BOLERO-3 is talking!

Saturday, January 24, 2015

Cytokines and Vitamin D mysterious interaction...is there a value in Cancers of the elderly!

"These sets of experiments establish clearly that combinations of recombinant cytokines and vitamins could induce substancial intramonocyte killing of M.Tuberculosis.   The mechanism involved in this killing activity is not clarified"

From M.Denis.
"Conclusions: our data imply that specific actions of 1,25 (OH) Vitamin D3 in Cytokine stimulated T-Cell functions could have a role in preventing T cells related autoimmune diseases but also predispose toward T-cell mediated allergic reactions"


        Ralph Thien  et al   (J Allergy Clin Immunol 2005;116:683-9.
 
 
F Focus on Iron,Selenium, Cupper, and Zinc
   Vitamin A  (mortality to infections),B (impacts on number of lymphocytes),C(phagocytosis),D(susceptibility in IL-6 
    diseases) ,E (dysfunction of T&B cells)   (Read Susanna Cunnigham-Rundles et al.

   When the age comes!
 

Don't do it again in NSCL Cancers

Clinically Negative phase III trials with Antiangiogenics (and their targets) in NSCL cancers:

1.Thalidomid  -----an Antiangiogenic drug
2.Cediranib---------VEGFR TKI
3.Vandetanib--------Multikinase TKI
4.Sorafenib---------Multikinase TKI
5.Sunitinib----------Multikinase TKI
6.Aflibercept------------VEGF/PIGF

(from C.Langer notes)

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Castleman disease

for Castleman disease
Hepcidin, Arlet at al" The results of this unique case study (1) explain the mechanism of iron deficiency observed in some children with CD, (2) confirm in vivo the regulatory effect of IL-6 in human hepcidin production, and (3) suggest that iron deficiency is a causal link between IL-6 and anemia of chronic disease."
from conference correspodent:
Siltuximab Efficacy in Multicentric Castleman's Disease Is Independent of Baseline Symptom Burden
Multicentric Castleman's Disease (MCD) is a rare, highly symptomatic, systemic lymphoproliferative disorder driven by dysregulated interleukin (IL)-6 signaling

from Johnson :"
Fifty-three patients were randomized to the SYLVANT arm at a dose of 11 mg/kg and 26 patients were randomized to the placebo arm. Patients had symptomatic MCD and were HIV negative and HHV-8 negative.[1] In this pivotal study, which led to the FDA approval, more than one-third of patients in the SYLVANT arm had a durable tumor and symptomatic response to treatment plus best supportive care (BSC), compared to none of the patients who received placebo plus BSC (34 percent versus 0 percent; 95 percent CI: 11.1, 54.8; p=0.0012). A durable response was defined as tumor and symptomatic response (reduction in tumor size and disease symptoms) that persisted for a minimum of 18 weeks without treatment failure."
The FDA approved the drug based on these findings

A trial of Dexamethasone and Rituxan could also be given....

Saturday, January 3, 2015

about Vitamin D

Dr David Samadi:
"A University of Colorado Cancer Center study recently published in the journal Prostate presents new evidence that vitamin D may help reduce cancer-causing inflammation. Scientists found that the gene GDF-15 – known to be up-regulated by vitamin D - can help block a protein which stimulates tumor growth." (suppression of the NFkB?)

from WebMD:

" The pigment melanin reduces the skin's ability to make vitamin D in response to sunlight exposure. Some studies show that older adults with darker skin are at high risk of vitamin D deficiency."

Is this why Prostate cancer tend to be more aggressive in Black
Is this sufficient evidence that Vitamin D deficiency should be avoided to reduce cancer
what is the role of Vitamin D in reducing certain Cytokines
does Vitamin D deficiency play a role in other cancers?
what is the role of Vitamin D in altering the Telomeres?
should Vitamin D enter the main stay of treatment of Metastatic Prostate cancers  (particularly in black)

While the NFkB may be involved, the truth is  everything  seems to happen at the Vitamin D receptor .
We know that in certain cases of deficiency (induced by Cytokines), the cell will increase the receptors to maximize its chances of capturing the Vitamin. And this may be the first move to neoplastic transformation.   Indeed increase in unbound Receptors of Vitamin D will overactivate not only the WNT but the deadly Hedgehog signaling changing the shape of the the prostate and its fate or life.   Just the BAG-1 (BCL-2 interaction) stimulation that will ensue is sufficient to beat the drum of Neoplasia.    Subsequent disruptions including  of Cav3, Raf, the RUNX and so forth will ensue.  Leading to a full fledged prostate cancer....by the way this receptor also interacts with the AR (Androgen Receptor).     Avoid Vitamin D deficiency by all costs!  (The scenario where desensitization of Vitamin D receptor is the alternative is not discussed here)

Monday, December 29, 2014

Prospective study in cancer Neoplasia

We are at the break of a large prospective study that will test our understanding of neoplastic transformation.  There are obvious facts that the drop of the effect of hormones is followed by the reign of Cytokines which seems to coincide with a rise of cancers in the older population (above 50 years old).  And now we have increasingly companies that propose genes to be screened for cancer predisposition (ie.GeneID, FDA approved).
Putting these facts together,  it seems we are at the beginning of of a large prospective study that will monitor the changes in Cytokines against changes in selected genes and see what cancer will evolve over a 5-10 year period.
Cytokines tend to misbehave in the presence of certain genes (Fos, GSK, certain experiences-see related articles, G proteins -), these would play in the phosphorylation of unwanted genes.   This component must be included in the observation.
One interesting aspect to point out is that while some researchers are focusing on gene alteration detection, others such as professor Zangh at UTEP are focusing on Antibodies created as a result of the neoplastic transformation.  A recent rise in interest of lymphocytic (or activated lymphocytes) behavior in cancer may suggest the "a propos" of this last approach.

Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Options in Metastatic Her-2 positive Breast cancer

1.Pertuzumab + Herceptin + Taxanes

2.Adotrastuzumab EMTANSINE  "a HER2-targeted antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) which contains the humanized anti-HER2 IgG1, trastuzumab, covalently linked to the microtubule inhibitory drug DM1 (a maytansine derivative) via the stable thioether linker MCC (4-[N-maleimidomethyl] cyclohexane-1-carboxylate). Emtansine refers to the MCC-DM1 complex." (DRUG)

3.LAPATINIB -XELODA

4."Data from five posters presented during the 2014 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) provide further evidence on the efficacy, safety and quality of life profile of eribulin, in the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer (MBC) and data in early stage breast cancer.

A second Phase 2, multicentre, open-label study, explores the feasibility of eribulin plus capecitabine as an adjuvant therapy in women with early-stage, estrogen receptor (ER) positive breast cancer." (drug)

Friday, December 19, 2014

New drugs on the market

From Momenta:
"Necuparanib (formerly M402) is a novel, rationally designed, oncology drug candidate under investigation in metastatic pancreatic cancer.  The use of heparins to treat venous thrombosis in cancer patients has generated numerous reports of antitumor activity; however, the dose of these products has been limited by their anticoagulant activity. Necuparanib, which is derived from unfractionated heparin, has been engineered to have significantly reduced anticoagulant activity while preserving the relevant antitumor properties of heparin. Necuparanib binds to multiple growth factors, adhesion molecules, and chemokines to inhibit tumor angiogenesis, progression, and metastasis."

JUST REMEMBER HEPARAN SURFACE IF THE COVER OF ESTROGEN RECEPTORS AND MANY OTHER RECEPTORS  HUMMMM! CAN THIS PRODUCT WORK IN ER POSITIVE TUMOR?

" Twelve patients treated with necuparanib plus Abraxane and Gemzar completed the first 28-day treatment cycle. They had at least one follow up CT scan and were considered eligible for evaluating radiographic response. Out of them, seven patients showed a RECIST partial response and four patients reported stable disease.

Moreover, 11 out of the 12 patients showed a more than 50% decrease in CA19.9 levels (a predictive biomarker for long-term outcome and treatment response in pancreatic cancer) from baseline. The remaining patient achieved a more than 20% decrease from baseline. Overall, disease control was achieved in 92% of these 12 patients."

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Cytokines after age of 45

Now it is true that the Cytokines are able to induce cancers
the question is is it through the FAK gene or the BCAR3,TENC1
or directly through the MDM2,
or through pathways (ie. the LYN-CD22-SHP-1 pathway for lymphocyte )(wikipedia)whatever the connection, a number of amplification gene will be soon engaged to commit and amplify the process Myc, NPM1, Cyclin B1,
other supportive activities will be amplification of transcription factors
suppression of promoters of Tumor suppressor oncogenes
and some of the elongation genes (for telomeres)
disturbance of Mitochondrial genes and Ubiquitination genes
all these steps open an opportunity for a therapeutic intervention.
the way to treating cancer provide so many opportunities, soon we will be working at finding the best way to articulate and sequencing them!

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

New targeting Chemotherapies

Eribulin in Breast cancer
Tipiracil in Colon cancer
Ramucirumab and Paclitaxel (or FOLFOX) for Gastric cancer
Panobinostat for Myeloma
Pembrolizumab for lung cancers
Afatinib +chemotherapy for non small cell lung cancers that is EGFR with Mutation Del-19
Bortezomib +chemotherapy VR-CAP for Mantle cell
Nivolumab for Metastatic Renal cancer
anti-BRAF and Anti-MEK for Melanoma

Sunday, November 30, 2014

Recent Big news!

*Recent trial suggested that Jakafi in combination with Xeloda may be useful in second line therapy against pancreatic cancer particularly those induced or accompanied by strong inflammatory response as suggested by high lebel of CRP (C-reative protein) (Targeted Therapy).
*With over 20% success in patents with NSCL cancers, Nivolumab /Pembrolizumab and other anti PD-1/PD-L1 continue to impress researchers and are bound to change the therapeutic approaches in this disease.  Soon everyone will be screened for these antigens as response rates seem to correlate with their presence.
*Does inhibiting Cytokines inducing cachexia in cancer able to change overall survival rates in cancers.   What is the relationships between these Cytokines and Mitochondrial changes and telomeres?

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

After the Cytokine period in a life cycle

First we have a Conception, birth and growth lasting from birth to 10 to 15 years, this period is full of "growth" but seems dominated by the HLA (Histocompatibility build up) but also organ maturation. Trying to establish what is oneself seems to be the priority.  Fight against infections seem to be the determinant event. Here women are the most "build"up in preparation for receiving the child, a foreign entity.

Then come 15 to 25 years of "Hormone reign"when most of the purpose is turned to reproductive function. The testicular cancer happen at this stage.  And in women, infection driven cancers (cervix) will mark this period.  Autoimmune and metabolic diseases will mark this period.

After the reign of the Hormones, after Menopause, commences the "years of the Cytokines".  This last another 20 years. One important fact during the years of the Cytokines, Hormone receptor desensitization with marked endothelial effect in women and does have profound epigenic and nuclear effects at cellular level.  Most cancers will happen here as Cytokines induce them.  In developing countries, most do not reach this period.  The cytokine period obviously last all life long as cancer can happen any day but during the years of 50 to 70, cancer risks are clearly higher but so are arthritic conditions that fully fall on the lapse of the Cytokines.  Mental disturbances also fall on the Cytokines.  Those who are lucky have a good c-fos, c-jun, Fas, FOXO-1, Daf-1 and the Telomeres (families of genes), will enter the new 10-20 years with still the Cytokine but less intense, like the one that make lose weight and muscle tone, the one that induce dementia and further CNS disturbances....