samedi 15 février 2014

A Two-Drug Combination To Help Brain Tumors

By Robbie Sutter


When studying brain tumors and what can be done in order to slow their progression, at the very least, certain drugs will be focused on. Some of these may have been utilized to help other conditions in the past while another group of drugs may be entirely unique. Whatever the case may be, it's apparent that some of them will leave greater impacts than others, not only in the medical field but amongst patients as well. Could a potential two-drug combination help to expand results even further?

YottaFire put forth an article that went into detail about a combination of drugs that could come into play in order to stop the progression of brain tumors. A group of mice was focused on, seeing as how each of the test subjects had the condition in question. Following the administration of the drug tandem, it was found that their survival rates had become that much better. To me, this is just one of the reasons as to why this story should be focused on by many organizations, Voices against Brain Cancer included.

A group of researchers at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute put together a study that focused on the usage of two drugs that would be able to inhibit the actions that could drive glioblastoma. This combination would be able to target two cell signaling pathways, which is worthy of note when considering the actions taken before. Prior, only one pathway was focused on and the results have been rendered unsuccessful. This drug combination would also bring focus to a genetic abnormality seen in about one-third of all glioblastoma cases.

It seems as though these patients lack a particular gene that has been given the name of PTEN. The gene in question works as a tumor suppressant, which is vital when considering what can happen without it. If PTEN is not present, the body undergoes a chain reaction that includes overactive molecular growth. What his means is that cells can grow to tremendous rates, which could also play into how they are able to reach the brain. The gene cannot be replaced through these drugs but this level of progression can be halted.

The human body is one that can go about a number of actions, many of which we are not entirely certain of. What exactly makes said actions come about, one has to wonder? It's clear that not all of them are going to make sense and I am sure that there are many who do not understand the importance behind the PTEN gene. When considering how integral PTEN is in terms of the growth of brain tumors, the focus brought on certain drugs coming together means that much more.




About the Author:



Aucun commentaire:

Enregistrer un commentaire