Possible new cancer treatment identified
2012-04-21
(Press-News.org) New research findings show how it may be possible to render cancer tumours harmless without affecting the other cells and tissues in the body. The findings apply to cancers including breast, lung and bowel cancer. The study was carried out at Lund University in Sweden.
Many of the most common chemotherapy drugs used to treat cancer have serious side effects because they not only affect the cells in the cancer tumour, but also the cells in the rest of the body.
Researchers at Lund University have now found a connection between two proteins that in different ways control cell division and the possibilities for a cancer tumour to develop. The retinoblastoma protein obstructs cell division and is absent in most types of cancer tumour. The new findings show that its absence leads to an increase in another protein, gamma-tubulin, which, when present in high levels, encourages the development of cancer tumours. However, if gamma-tubulin is blocked, the tumour cells die while the healthy cells survive.
The researchers are now looking for substances that can stop the effect of gamma-tubulin on cell division. This could form the basis for a new drug that works on various types of cancer and has a low risk of side effects if the substance is directed to the right place. This is because it is only the tumour cells that die.
"I judge the chances of finding a basis for a drug to be good, partly because there are already substances that block 'cousins' of gamma-tubulin", says Maria Alvarado-Kristensson, a researcher at Lund University, who believes that, if all goes well, a drug could be ready for initial tests on patients, known as 'phase 1 testing', in 5-6 years' time.
In the study, tissue and genetic material from patients with various different types of cancer were studied: breast cancer, bladder cancer, small-cell lung cancer, colon cancer and eye cancer. The two proteins were seen to play an important role in all these diseases and the protein is also found in a number of other types of cancer tumour.
"It is exciting to have research findings that are significant for several common types of cancer. This means that many patients will be affected if our work proves successful", says Maria Alvarado Kristensson.
The search for effective substances will involve screening a large number of substances, both natural and synthetic.
INFORMATION:
The study
Title: Tumors with non-functional RB1 are killed by reduced gamma-tubulin levels
Published in: Journal of Biological Chemistry
For more information
Maria Alvarado Kristensson, researcher in molecular pathology at the Department of Laboratory Medicine in Malmö, Lund University, +46 40 33 83 91
END
ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:
2012-04-21
Scientists from the University of Southampton and Synairgen, a respiratory drug development company spun out from the University, can announce positive data from its Phase II clinical trial, into the effectiveness of the drug SNG001 (inhaled interferon beta) for asthma patients.
This pioneering trial investigated the potential for SNG001 to protect asthmatics from respiratory virus infections, principally the common cold, that can spread to the lung, which are a major cause of worsening asthma symptoms.
There are 5.4 million asthmatics in the UK (Asthma UK) and 25.7 ...
2012-04-21
April 19, 2012, Shenzhen, China - Chinese scientists from BGI, the world's largest genomics organization, together with the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), and Shihezi University, Xinjiang province, made a significant breakthrough in animal cloning. The world's first transgenic sheep produced with a simplified technique, handmade cloning, was successfully born at 12:16pm, March 26, 2012, in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China. The project was also supported by the Animal Science Academy of Xinjiang.
"The transgenic ...
2012-04-21
Exercise in the open air is good for you, but if you want to reap the full benefits you should head for the coast or the countryside rather than an urban park.
That is the conclusion of research by Katherine Ashbullby and Dr Mathew White from the European Centre for Environment and Human Health (ECEHH), Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry, and the School of Psychology, University of Plymouth. Mathew White is presenting the findings today (19 April) to the British Psychological Society Annual Conference held at the Grand Connaught Rooms, London (18-20 April).
Katherine ...
2012-04-21
Researchers at the University of Liverpool have found that children who have experienced severe trauma are three times as likely to develop schizophrenia in later life.
The findings shed new light on the debate about the importance of genetic and environmental triggers of psychotic disorders. For many years research in mental health has focused on the biological factors behind conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and psychotic depression, but there is now increasing evidence to suggest these conditions cannot be fully understood without first looking at ...
2012-04-21
A University of Leicester study has provided clear evidence that allowing a patient to see a particular doctor in the GP surgery has an important impact on reducing hospital admissions.
Between 1999-2000 and 2009-2010 elective (non-emergency) hospital admissions in England increased by 28% to 9.4 million. Over the same period, there was an increase of 35% in emergency admissions.
But research from the University's Department of Health Sciences found that a 1% increase in the proportion of patients able to see a particular doctor was associated with a reduction of 7.6 ...
2012-04-21
John Doerr has backed some of the most successful ventures in the internet age from Amazon to Zynga. He shared insights and advice during a recent visit to Olin Business School at Washington University in St. Louis.
"I'm an idea junkie, an addict to new and shiny ideas," John Doerr told an audience of students and faculty at Olin Business School this week. The influential Silicon Valley venture capitalist and his partners at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers have backed some of the most successful start-ups in the internet age. From Google and Amazon to ...
2012-04-21
Obese women run the risk of problems during pregnancy, labour and complications for the baby's health. A new study of more than 3000 expectant mothers confirms this, and also reveals that being underweight also has specific complications.
Researchers at University Hospital Virgen de las Nieves, in Granada, have identified the risks in pregnancy related specifically to obesity and have compared them to underweight women to confirm that extreme slimness also carries a risk.
"During pregnancy, obesity is linked to hypertension, gestational diabetes, premature labour, ...
2012-04-21
Dr. David Struble, Ozark dentist, is pleased to announce that his practice is now offering a mobile version of its website. The new mobile site is optimized for viewing on smartphones and tablet devices.
"I'm happy to be able to offer the new mobile site to our patients. I know that more and more people today are using their mobile phones to access the Internet and I'm glad that our website is designed to fit with those devices. I hope that our patients that use smartphones and tablets will access our site in this way," said Dr. Struble, Ozark, MO dentist. ...
2012-04-21
April 24, 2012 - Thinking about death can actually be a good thing. An awareness of mortality can improve physical health and help us re-prioritize our goals and values, according to a new analysis of recent scientific studies. Even non-conscious thinking about death – say walking by a cemetery – could prompt positive changes and promote helping others.
Past research suggests that thinking about death is destructive and dangerous, fueling everything from prejudice and greed to violence. Such studies related to terror management theory (TMT), which posits that we uphold ...
2012-04-21
In daily life we remember faces and voices of several known individuals. Similarly, mammals have been shown to remember calls and faces of known individuals after a number of years. Markus Boeckle and Thomas Bugnyar from the Department of Cognitive Biology of the University of Vienna show in their recent article, published in Current Biology, that ravens differentiate individuals based on familiarity. Additionally, they discovered that ravens memorize relationship valence and affiliation.
So far it was unknown whether relationship valence can be remembered based on former ...
LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:
[Press-News.org] Possible new cancer treatment identified
