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本帖最后由 饶冠华 于 2013-2-26 22:41 编辑 1 p1 r) v! k% m, y( [( v" u
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What is cancer? (by Guanhua Rao)
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& J/ m* x+ Z; J' p- _+ L$ M/ YDefinition:
6 C ?. ~9 k" m& X' A/ DWhat is cancer? Cancer is defined as a solid or fluid-filled lesion that may be formed by an abnormal growth of cells which tend to proliferate in an uncontrolled way. Although cancer cells always accompany with different gene mutations or chromosome alterations, the only character that cancer cells shared in common is uncontrolled proliferation capability. t# T2 f$ S6 Z9 R+ q
) L, J5 p. m' _- ACurrent situation and problems in cancer research:
% c7 a# T: W1 @* rDespite several decades of heavily funded research, cancer still kills millions of people every year. Although deaths from cancer have declined slightly since 2002, it is more likely depended on the earlier detection of cancers as well as lifestyle changes (such as quitting smoking), rather than dramatic improvements in treatments.
: d1 L( W% e3 G6 Q8 ]% lWhy things are progressing so slowly in cancer research? What is the biggest problem about cancer research?
2 ]0 G4 m/ v8 r9 h3 R P7 NIn my opinion, the so-called “reductionist” approach is the greatest barrier for us to realize the truth of cancer. As a matter of fact, the Mutation Theory (SMT), which qualified as ‘mainstream theory’ in cancer research, can’t resolve the problems of cancer. Just the same as Ana Soto & Carlos Sonnenschein once referred that the reductive thrust went as far down as needed to construct an explanation for cancer biology (1).
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To my understanding, the cancer is [ i] initiated by disrupting the normal cell-cell interactions. Regardless of intracellular process (such as oncogene activation or tumor suppressor gene inactivation), cancer is a cell-based disease. It means that a single cancer cell is the smallest unit of cancer. If we want know more truth about cancer, we should take a whole cancer cell as the object of study, rather than the oncogenes. [ii] Carcinogenesis does not require acquisition of a new function. Cancer cells are derived from normal cells, so most characters of cancer cells are the same as normal cells. [iii] The biggest problem caused by cancer is organ dysfunction, and cancer metastasis can lead to multiple system organ failure. [iv] Why does cancer metastasize? I think it is a random process that without any special purpose. However, if the microenvironment of tumor cells goes bad, they would like to escape from the unfavorable environment. For example, antiangiogenic agents could destroy the tumor vasculature, thereby depriving the tumor of oxygen and nutrients, and induced primary tumor reduction, however, they also increase lymphatic and distant metastasis of cancer (2).# Z* c% j \: x5 ?
, a7 X7 a c8 `8 k. f5 SHow to cure cancer?* m6 X9 q- d2 |/ k4 s; x2 a7 }9 a. }
As we all know, cancer metastasis is the killer for cancer patients. In my opinion, to cure cancer, first of all, reduce the chance of cancer metastasis. Secondary, rescue the organ’s functions. Thirdly, shrink the primary tumor. At last, enjoy the happy life.
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1. Soto AM, Sonnenschein C. Emergentism as a default: cancer as a problem of tissue organization. Journal of biosciences. 2005;30:103-18.
: J/ f5 ]4 J1 }( a2. Paez-Ribes M, Allen E, Hudock J, Takeda T, Okuyama H, Vinals F, et al. Antiangiogenic therapy elicits malignant progression of tumors to increased local invasion and distant metastasis. Cancer cell. 2009;15:220-31.
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发表于 2013-2-26 22:40
发表于 2013-2-27 11:17
