Sunday, September 19, 2010

Why this study is important

The Sympathetic Nervous System Induces a Metastatic Switch in Primary Breast Cancer — Cancer Res

This study shows that at the very least for breast cancer, chronic stress (non-painful stress) can induce cancer cells to become more metastatic. Chronic stress shifts to a "sympathetic predominance." This make the cancer cells "outside" the primary tumor more aggressive.

So really stress is not a good idea for cancer patients.

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Down but not out

I'm feeling the blues again. Patient X was admitted due to pleural and pericardial effusion. It was a good thing he was at the right place. Only problem is, he's intubated but fighting.

I pray for his recovery.

Sunday, September 05, 2010

Cancer Cells are resistant to angiogenesis inhibitors?

New studies explain how cancer cells 'eat us alive'

This new study seems to say at least 3 things:

1. Its not the cancer that directly causes cachexia, its the stromal cells or fibroblast dying rapidly due to the stress induced by cancer cells.
2. Cancer Cells have mitochondria. In a "normal environment" where cancer cells are present together with the fibroblasts, mitochondria are present. THis is in contrast to cancer cell cultures where cancer cells had no mitochondria.
3. Angiogenesis inhibitors may actually make cancer cells more aggressive in causing cachexia, relapse and metastasis.