1 / 68

Understanding Cancer: Current Scientific Research on Causes, Treatments, and Prevention

Understanding Cancer: Current Scientific Research on Causes, Treatments, and Prevention. www.ctoam.com.

macy
Download Presentation

Understanding Cancer: Current Scientific Research on Causes, Treatments, and Prevention

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Understanding Cancer: Current Scientific Research on Causes, Treatments, and Prevention www.ctoam.com

  2. Our mission is to educate you and provide you with the most current research on the prevention and treatment of cancer so that you can make the most informed choice possible and ensure that you are doing all you can to have a life that is cancer free. www.ctoam.com

  3. In this presentation we’ll cover: How cancer develops and the role of genes and stem cells in its development. Current treatments, their effectiveness and limitations. www.ctoam.com

  4. In this presentation we’ll cover: Diagnostic and imaging options that have been proven to enhance treatment effectiveness. The benefits and misconceptions of clinical trials. www.ctoam.com

  5. In this presentation we’ll cover: The importance of using nutraceuticals as part of your cancer treatment and prevention protocol. www.ctoam.com

  6. This presentation consists of two key sections: 1. Cancer 101 - Understanding Current Issues In Cancer & 2. Ensuring That You Are Making Informed Choices www.ctoam.com

  7. Cancer 101 It is now widely accepted that all cancers are caused by adult stem cells (or cells with stem-cell like properties). www.ctoam.com

  8. What is an adult stem cell? The progenitor (originator) of a group of cells of a specific type Occur in roughly 1 out of 6 million body cells. Used to repair and replace body cells. www.ctoam.com

  9. What is an adult stem cell? Exist in regions referred to as stem cell niches, where they remain in a dormant state (quiescence) until activated. Each type of tissue contains it’s own stem cell niche. www.ctoam.com

  10. What is an adult stem cell? • All stem cells have unique features that allow them to avoid destruction during treatment. • However, it is their ability to exist in a dormant state (quiescence) until activated, that is currently inhibiting standard treatments. www.ctoam.com

  11. The 2 stages of stem cell activation There are two key stages of stem cell activation: Proliferation. 2. Differentiation. www.ctoam.com

  12. The 2 stages of stem cell activation In The Proliferation Stage: The stem cell makes multiple copies of itself. In The Differentiation Stage: The multiple copies are converted into the required cell type and given a Hayflick number. www.ctoam.com

  13. The 2 stages of stem cell activation • The Hayflick number is the number of times a normal cell will divide before it stops and dies. • The important point here is that once a cell has differentiated, it has a finite lifespan. www.ctoam.com

  14. Stem cell life cycle Stem cell (dormant) Progenitor cell (proliferation) Mature cell (differentiation) (Activation) Self renewal www.ctoam.com

  15. Stem cell life cycle • There are two imports points here: • A stem cell makes an exact copy of itself, which remains dormant in the stem cell niche. • A stem cell also produces a large amount of progenitor cells, which then differentiate into the required type of cells. www.ctoam.com

  16. Stem cells and cancer The problem with stem cells is that sometimes, due to mutations, a stem cell is not provided with the cues for differentiation and it gets stuck in a never ending cycle of proliferation, making many copies of itself. This is what we call cancer. www.ctoam.com

  17. Genes and cancer There are two key types of genes involved in cancer: 1. Oncogenes. 2. Tumor suppressors. www.ctoam.com

  18. Genes and cancer Oncogenes (tumor causing genes): Cause proliferation. 2. Are turned on (expressed) or over-expressed in cancers. 3. Are mutated in such a way that causes them to stay on. www.ctoam.com

  19. Genes and cancer Tumor suppressors (cancer preventing genes): Initiate differentiation. Are inhibited or under-expressed in cancers. There are common mutations and deletions of tumor suppressors that occur in specific forms of cancer. www.ctoam.com

  20. Normal stem cell life cycle Stem cell (dormant) Progenitor cell (proliferation) Mature cell (differentiation) (Activation) (Oncogenes) (Tumor supressor genes) Self renewal www.ctoam.com

  21. Cancer stem cell life cycle Stem cell (dormant) Progenitor cell (proliferation) Mature cell (differentiation) (Activation) (Oncogenes) (Tumor suppressor genes) Self renewal Tumor cells www.ctoam.com

  22. Why is this important? There are hundreds of documented oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes in your body. Only four of these genes need to be altered or mutated for cancer to develop. www.ctoam.com

  23. Why is this important? Therefore, there are many 1000’s of possible combinations of gene alterations that can lead to cancer in each individual case. It is not the same for every person. This is why success rates for treatment can vary so greatly from one person to another. www.ctoam.com

  24. Development of cancer Now let’s explore how cancer develops once the unregulated proliferation of stem cells has begun. www.ctoam.com

  25. Metastasis When a cancer cell is stuck in proliferation and hasn’t differentiated, it can live almost anywhere in the body (metastasize) But, how is it that cancer cells travel throughout the body? www.ctoam.com

  26. Angiogenesis and metastasis Cancer cells are constantly growing and therefore, need to consume a lot of resources. In other words, they require their own blood supply. Angiogenesis is a process that cancers use to recruit their own blood vessels in order to enable their continued growth. www.ctoam.com

  27. Angiogenesis and metastasis The process of angiogenesis is controlled by oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes. Oncogenes are responsible for the development of angiogenesis while tumor suppressor genes inhibit it. www.ctoam.com

  28. Epithelial To Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) Epithelial cancer stem cells interact with a type of cell derived from bone marrow called mesenchymal stem cells in a process called epithelial to mesenchymal transition. www.ctoam.com

  29. Epithelial To Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) In the EMT process, cancer stem cells send out signals that attract the mesenchymal stem cells from the bone marrow into the tumor where these cells interact and stimulate the growth of cancer stem cells. Also provides the primary tumor cells (epithelial) to metastasize to bone. www.ctoam.com

  30. Epithelial To Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) The process of EMT is controlled by oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes. Oncogenes are responsible for the development of EMT while tumor suppressor genes inhibit it. www.ctoam.com

  31. Summary Stem cells remain dormant until activated. Cancer is a disease of the stem cells caused by reduced differentiation and increased proliferation. www.ctoam.com

  32. Summary The recruitment of blood vessels (angiogenesis) allows the tumor to grow and to metastasize. EMT allows the primary tumor cells to metastasize to bone. Proliferation, differentiation, angiogenesis and EMT are all controlled by genes. www.ctoam.com

  33. The standardized approach to cancer treatment utilizes the following three techniques: Surgery: Removes diseased tissues. 2. Radiation: Creates DNA mutations in rapidly dividing cells. 3. Chemotherapy: Chemical interference of rapidly dividing cells. Standard treatment methods www.ctoam.com

  34. Limitations of surgery • Surgery is localized: • Limited to treatment of localized disease. • Potential to miss stem cells, cells that are in pre-cancerous stages, or cells that have already metastasized. www.ctoam.com

  35. Limitations of radiation Radiation is localized: Non-selective, affects all rapidly dividing cells and is very toxic. Only affects active cells during course of treatment (not dormant cancer causing stem cells). www.ctoam.com

  36. Limitations of radiation Radiation is localized: Angiogenesis (cancer cell recruitment of blood vessels) occurs directly after treatment. Radiation can create new DNA mutations that may lead to new cancers. www.ctoam.com

  37. Limitations of chemotherapy Chemotherapy (generalized): Non-selective, affects all rapidly dividing cells and is very toxic. Only affects active cells during course of treatment (not dormant cancer causing stem cells). www.ctoam.com

  38. Limitations of chemotherapy Chemotherapy (generalized): Angiogenesis occurs directly after treatment. Chemotherapy can create new DNA mutations that may lead to new cancers. www.ctoam.com

  39. Radiation and chemotherapy The main difference between radiation and chemotherapy is that radiation is used locally and limited to specific regions of the body, while chemotherapy affects all of the cells in the body. www.ctoam.com

  40. Additional concerns: Surgery & Radiation In order for surgery and radiation to be effective, the following concerns need to be addressed: Doctors need to target the stem cell niche as well as the malignant tissue (tumor). Doctors need to ensure they have accurate imaging prior to surgery and treatment to differentiate between normal and tumor tissues. www.ctoam.com

  41. Making informed choices: Imaging PET/CT Combines CT imaging with positron emission tomography. Shows biological activity within organs and detects cancer in the earliest stages. Uses a cancer-specific glucose solution and a radioactive tracer agent that lights up cancerous hot spots. www.ctoam.com

  42. Making informed choices: Imaging Imaging: PET-CT According to the BC Cancer Agency; In 87 % of cases in which a patient has had a PET-CT scan, the results of the test lead to changes in the initial decisions made by oncologists for planned cancer treatment. www.ctoam.com

  43. Making informed choices: Imaging Imaging: PET-CT In other words, without a PET-CT scan, current detection methods are only accurate 13% of the time! PET-CT not only ensures proper targeting of the tumor during surgery and radiation treatments, it helps avoid over-treatment or under-treatment. www.ctoam.com

  44. Imaging: Normal CT scan www.ctoam.com

  45. CT Alone PET/CT www.ctoam.com

  46. Additional concerns: Chemotherapy Issues: In order for chemotherapy to be effective, we need to accurately determine the dosage and combination of drugs that provides maximal benefits with minimal side effects. Need to affect stem cell niche as well as malignant tissue. www.ctoam.com

  47. Making informed choices: Diagnostics Chemotherapy Sensitivity Tests: Performed on a patient’s tumor sample to identify personalized dose and drug combinations (optimized chemotherapy). Allows for lower doses, less side effects, and faster recovery times www.ctoam.com

  48. Clinical trials: Clinical trials represent leading-edge medical science. However, less than 5% of adults diagnosed with cancer each year are enrolled in clinical trails. While there are a number of various treatment approaches being offered through clinical trials, 8 out of 10 patients are not aware that this is a viable option for them. www.ctoam.com

  49. Benefits of clinical trials In order to be offered to the human population, each clinical trial must show that the approach being tested is superior to standard treatment. Patients are also provided with superior imaging and diagnostics not typically offered in public medical facilities. www.ctoam.com

  50. They do not replace standard treatment, they are a form of adjunct therapy, and as such are offered as an additional treatment to standard treatment. In most clinical trials the standard treatment is typically used in place of the placebo (control group). Benefits of clinical trials www.ctoam.com

More Related