Today I want to present a lengthy article from NYT on basically going back to the roots of cancer research:
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/15/magazine/warburg-effect-an-old-idea-revived-starve-cancer-to-death.html
Although it is not my area, the article is linked to at least two older posts and we may continue discussion.
The questions that pop-up in mind after reading this article:
- In your opinion which cancer therapy seems more promising: the one targeting cancer cells metabolism or the genetic immunotherapy?
- According to the article what might be the role of high-sugar diet in relation to cancer?
- Do you think that metformin (the drug known to have remarkable effect on inhibiting cancer growth) should be prescribed as the way to prevent cancer?
Paweł.
Ad1 : I my opinion, as well as the majority of researchers, more promising is the genetic immunotherapy. In general, the genetic based methods for fighting diseases, prominently cancer of any kind, is the most promising of all, since the hope is to be able to regenerate any part of healthy human tissue from scratch using the correct DNA sequence. This is particularly true in case of cancer, which is at the basic level a growth of DNA-damaged cells. Also, human built-in immune system provides the natural, perfect platform to used corrected DNA cells for fighting the disease.
ReplyDeleteAd2: I am not a competent person to provide specific answer, but after reading two more articles on the subject, it seems to me that sugar can have an effect on the disease. Please follow these links : http://www.oncologynutrition.org/erfc/healthy-nutrition-now/sugar-and-cancer/
and (in Polish) http://www.vitanatural.pl/rak-zywi-sie-cukrem
Ad3: It is hard to say, especially as I am not an expert. However, in my opinion, before prescribing any drug to prevent illness, it should be determined first, what is the direct cause of disease. Based on my understanding, we still don’t know the causes of disease in many cases. For example, there are many reasons which can induce cancer, such as smoking cigarettes causes lung cancer, but a lot of people who get lung cancer have never smoked cigarettes or were in the vicinity of smokers. What I am trying to say, you should establish cause of illness first, then apply any preventive medication and not vice versa. Otherwise half of the world’s population could be stuffed with drugs to prevent cancer, the perfect business for pharma companies and their distribution networks. That is unfortunately btw, the main business model of their operation now.
Thank you for your response, Kinga.
DeleteI must admit, I share your opinion on targeted genetic immunotherapy to some extent. The only question is: does it scale. Can we create a anti-cancer leukocytes for all the patients in need, or it will be prohibitively expensive? Since it is patient's own cells that needs to be genetically re-engineered, we would need quite a few machines that will perform the operation... I am still not convinced that regular John Smith will be able to pay for the treatment...
On the other hand, the article I posted points out that sometimes immune system response is too strong and patients die because of it. So maybe we need combined therapies, rather than just one.
Paweł - thanks a lot for a very interesting article. Unfortunately nobody can say - I am absolutely healthy forever. Nowadays our modern civilisation has not only advantages as for example new technologies useful in common life, new social media, new interesting jobs, cheap food. Technological development provides a lot of disadvantages to our life as the environmental pollution and a new kind of illnesses. One of the most “popular” disorder is unfortunately cancer. According to my knowledge there is no one special reason of developing cancer in our body. I reckon there are a lot of issues influencing our health as environmental factors, genetics, our habits. I think junk food and water have a big impact on our health. Earlier people used to eat more vegetables, fruit. Nobody heard about artificial sugar and chemical substances in food. Today our all food (including food “bio”) is artificial and filled with sugar and chemicals. In my opinion this terrible food exhibits our body to many illness as obesity, cancer, diabetes. I think the diet is very important in all our life. The sugar and chemical ingredients we have eaten develop in our body illness tendencies. I think not all types of cancer can be treated only with diet but I reckon low sugar and chemical diet helps to be healthy. In my opinion people should research a lot of medicine ways to defeat disorders. The Second problem with cancer (and rest of the disorders) is money. Nowadays big medical companies derive profits from sick people. Therefore all new therapies which can solve our problems will be blocked because of the money. This is very, very sad that people build their fortune causing harm to others.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your honest opinion.
DeleteI am not really sure if all the drug manufacturers are really likely to block modern therapies, but I value your insights.
1) In your opinion which cancer therapy seems more promising: the one targeting cancer cells metabolism or the genetic immunotherapy?
ReplyDeleteOh that is depends on efficacy and influence on body. In my opinion better is theraphy with genetic immunotheraphy. I think that is less mischievousness for organism. In the other hand our immunology system could be able to fight with cancer with a bit help from medicaments.
2) According to the article what might be the role of high-sugar diet in relation to cancer?
Sugar does not stop at diabetes, metabolic syndrome, hyper- and hypoglycemia, GERD and heart disease. Sugar and cancer are locked in a death grip yet oncologists often fail to do what’s necessary to stop their patients from feeding their cancers with sweets.
3) Do you think that metformin (the drug known to have remarkable effect on inhibiting cancer growth) should be prescribed as the way to prevent cancer?
If there is any chance to have effects on inhibiting cancer growth – I’m agree. But we have to get analize everything about positives and negatives consequences.
Thank you for you response, Piotr.
DeleteI share your opinion that targeted genetic therapy yields better results. I just wonder if this scales. Can we produce anti-bodies for all the patients, or it would only be the rich ones who get the cure...
Hi, forgive me but when it comes to the first question I would have to just guess. When it comes to the other question. Well. I believe there is a correlation and a diet without sugar can help in the cancer treatment. In my opinion metformin should be used in cases where there is chance to inhibiting cancer.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your response, Przemysław.
DeleteI must agree that there is no point in prescribing meformin if it is not going to work (the article says it works to some extent in case of 80% types of cancer). Personally, I think that we need to combine different forms of therapy to wipe out cancer.
In your opinion which cancer therapy seems more promising: the one targeting cancer cells metabolism or the genetic immunotherapy?
ReplyDeleteTo be honest, it's a very hard topic for me. I've never been good in biology etc. However, in my opinion we should test them simultaneously.
According to the article what might be the role of high-sugar diet in relation to cancer?
The biggest problem with sugar is that we can't avoid eating it easily. Almost every ingredient we buy in store contains sugar. However, we can try to avoid buying frozen food and make it by ourselves.
Do you think that metformin (the drug known to have remarkable effect on inhibiting cancer growth) should be prescribed as the way to prevent cancer?
I would like to answer, really, but i'm not a doctor. Maybe it should be prescribed. I know one thing, in case of having cancer I will try every possible treatment.
Thank you for your response, Mateusz.
DeleteI must admit, that I am also not very good in Biology. Actually, I know next to nothing on the subject (which is quite obvious given the fact that I only had one in the primary school...)
I think that both therapies should be thoroughly clinically examined. It's good that researchers find more ways to treat cancer, but prevention, especially when it comes to proper diet and nutrition is still insufficient.
ReplyDeleteSome of us have watched "That Sugar film" and realized bad influence of refined sugar and how much sugar is added to regular food. According to the article you presented, high sugar diet can result in permanent high level of insulin which can lead to Warburg effect (cancer cells producing energy in glycosis process) and cancer growth.
Regarding metformin, I cannot tell if it should be prescribed. I think that as every form of therapy or drug it should be properly tested on a large sample.
Thank you for your response Mikołaj.
DeleteDo you think it makes sense to combine different therapies?
As for meformin, I know for the fact that it was quite thoroughly tested at least in Canada. I read an article about 2 years ago that the Canadians found this drug to work on many different cancers and they suggested it to be used more often.
Of course prescribing it to reduce the risk of having cancer is a different story, however according to the article most of the diabetics using this drug for many years seems to be oddly immune to cancer...
In your opinion which cancer therapy seems more promising: the one targeting cancer cells metabolism or the genetic immunotherapy?
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion genetic immunotherapy it is better.
According to the article what might be the role of high-sugar diet in relation to cancer?
I don't know but maybe exists some relationship between high-sugar diet and cancer. I am not specialist:)
Do you think that metformin (the drug known to have remarkable effect on inhibiting cancer growth) should be prescribed as the way to prevent cancer?
I would like answer this question but I really don't know what to say :) In my opinion some specialist can be answer this question
Cancer is the most prominent and challenging disease in humans today despite the great efforts employed for prevention and the cure achieved in a significant proportion of cancers by surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy, especially when detected early. Huge amounts of resources have been devoted to cancer research but clinicians and oncologists are still struggling as currently used therapeutic strategies are not entirely effective, and we are far from erasing this disease that continues to kill thousands worldwide every year.
ReplyDeleteThere is a significant accumulation of scientific data of all kinds which suggest that metformin could be a product promoting healthy aging and ensuring a high level of protection against cancer. Recent results confirm earlier findings that date back to research done with another biguanide, phenformin in the 1970s and who already showed that metformin worked so very similar to caloric restriction. Its mechanism of action makes it a priori compatible with the strategies of nutritional supplementation to slow aging even if the studies detailing the intractions between taking metformin and the vitamins, minerals, amino acids, fats and with many other nutrients remain to achieve.
In your opinion which cancer therapy seems more promising: the one targeting cancer cells metabolism or the genetic immunotherapy?
ReplyDeleteIf I had to vote I would for genetic immunotherapy, but I am not a specialist in this domain, so it would be only a guess. Maybe both of the therapies will be used. In one of Thorwald's books, there is a topic about an extensive discussion, that had place in 20th century, about which cancer treatment is more successfull, surgery or radiation. Nowadays, usually the combination of them is used. So, in my opinion, one therapy is not excluding the other.
According to the article what might be the role of high-sugar diet in relation to cancer?
It seems that high-sugar diet can increase the cancer growth. It is surprising for me. I have known that sugar has bad influence on human organism, but haven't known that it might be connected so directly with cancer.
Do you think that metformin (the drug known to have remarkable effect on inhibiting cancer growth) should be prescribed as the way to prevent cancer?
I am always very skeptical about taking medicines to prevent something.
Hello Pawel.
ReplyDeleteIn your opinion which cancer therapy seems more promising: the one targeting cancer cells metabolism or the genetic immunotherapy?
As all of commentators I would say that the genetic immunotherapy is the most promising method, that might help people in human-cancer war. Only question is what is effectiveness of this method in long range terms. Cancer relapse is quite often case therefore we should be careful with assessments, because worst method after next development steps might be breaking method that helps to win with cancer. Until somebody will find proper method we should support each of them.
According to the article what might be the role of high-sugar diet in relation to cancer?
More sugar = more cancer? I am not sure has sugar linear dependence with cancer, but if probe was representative then we should take care about proper sugar dosage. I have seen a film (one of previous konwersatorium posts) where family was eating sugar directly from the box and after this movie I have stopped drinking coffee and tea with sugar ;).
Do you think that metformin (the drug known to have remarkable effect on inhibiting cancer growth) should be prescribed as the way to prevent cancer?
If you are not an expert (and if you do not have a cancer) in my opinion you should not express your opinion in foreign area. My opinion does not matter in this case. If something is inhibiting cancer growth is medicament for cancer patients. If I good understand - you are asking about prevention for health people, so I will ask - are you using helmet 24 hours per day to prevent head injury? If we ensure proper level of prevention will we die health? :)
Hey, the article you linked us to is probably no ones expertise (perhaps I am wrong), however it is a very interesting topic regarding one of the most popular causes of death and it is nice to see that breakthroughs are achieved.
ReplyDelete1. I am really no expert but I read or heard somewhere that cancer feeds on glucose, so perhaps drastically lowering carbohydrate intake could bring positive results. I don't know the exact risks that are involved with each of the therapies, however both are prominent.
2. Ow, I've already answered this in my previous statement. :)
3. I think we don't really understand what exactly causes cancer and we also probably don't know how metformin really inhibits cancer growth as well as we most likely don't now what repercussions this could bring (possible side effects). Long term tests should be performed before using such treatments.
I am not quite certain that prevention is worse then sugar in alcoholic drink or even worse cafe with sugar. However all mention medical drugs should be taken in proper medical treatment. I would make guess to all medical question because I am not feel to be specialist in cancer. However reducement carbohydrates in all different forms in our diet could provide to proper insulin economy in our body. Additionally when we make this discipline in our consumption we won’t encounter problem of using prescribed medicine like Metformin or not.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDelete1. In your opinion which cancer therapy seems more promising:
the one targeting cancer cells metabolism or the genetic immunotherapy?
--
I am not very interested in biology, however, I think that it depends on the person who is influenced by the disease. Nonetheless, I believe that the genetic immunotherapy is the most promising therapy.
It is very important to regenerate healthy parts of human tissue. Then healthy parts will be able to fight the cancer.
2. According to the article what might be the role of high-sugar diet in relation to cancer?
I think that cancer is fed by a sugar. Maybe lowering the level of carbohydrates will bring positive results.
3. Do you think that metformin (the drug known to have remarkable effect
on inhibiting cancer growth) should be prescribed as the way to prevent cancer?
I am not an expert, however I believe that untill we don't know what causes cancer we shouldn't certainly point out a new drug as the greatest way to fight cancer.
Doing nothing is not good, too.
I'm not going to vote against the rest of group - genetic immunotherapy sounds better. Moving to second question, I'm pretty sure that cutting sugar in diet gives a lot of positive effects, including even cancer therapy.Some of colleges above already mentioned that - medicines made to "prevent" have in my opinion pejorative overtone. Even after long tests there could be some undiscovered negative effects in health.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, the performance of each therapy depends on the type of cancer. May be one of them is more universal than the other. I suppose that there are types of cancer more sensitive to the one targeting cancer cells metabolism and there are types more sensitive to genetic immunotherapy. In my opinion, the sugar on the effect on the growth of cancer cells and speeds up their growth. Regarding the third question: In my opinion, metformin may be used only in people with very high risk of genetic disease. Preventive use can bring more problems than benefits.
ReplyDelete1. In your opinion which cancer therapy seems more promising: the one targeting cancer cells metabolism or the genetic immunotherapy?
ReplyDeleteFirst of all it is good to see that we are starting to talk about less invasive ways of cancer treatment and that it is possible to differentiate cancer treatment and have possibility to choose between several options according to what suits to the patient.
2. According to the article what might be the role of high-sugar diet in relation to cancer?
It seems that cancer might be fed by sugar.
3. Do you think that metformin (the drug known to have remarkable effect on inhibiting cancer growth) should be prescribed as the way to prevent cancer?
First I would like to know the side effects of the drug. It might prevent certain types of cancer but dangerous for healthy organs
1. In your opinion which cancer therapy seems more promising: the one targeting cancer cells metabolism or the genetic immunotherapy?
ReplyDeleteFirst of all it is good to see that we are starting to talk about less invasive ways of cancer treatment and that it is possible to differentiate cancer treatment and have possibility to choose between several options according to what suits to the patient.
2. According to the article what might be the role of high-sugar diet in relation to cancer?
It seems that cancer might be fed by sugar.
3. Do you think that metformin (the drug known to have remarkable effect on inhibiting cancer growth) should be prescribed as the way to prevent cancer?
First I would like to know the side effects of the drug. It might prevent certain types of cancer but dangerous for healthy organs
That is totally not my topic of expertise. However, I think that genetic immunotherapy sound more promising. It looks like a high-sugar diet might cause a negative effect. I don't have an opinion about prescribing metformin.
ReplyDeleteIn your opinion which cancer therapy seems more promising: the one targeting cancer cells metabolism or the genetic immunotherapy?
ReplyDelete> I find the stories around the genetic immunotherapy more exciting.
According to the article what might be the role of high-sugar diet in relation to cancer?
> Seems like cancer might fed from sugar. I would not surprise If would see that there are other articles suggesting otherwise..
Do you think that metformin (the drug known to have remarkable effect on inhibiting cancer growth) should be prescribed as the way to prevent cancer?
> Side effects?
ReplyDelete1. In your opinion which cancer therapy seems more promising: the one targeting cancer cells metabolism or the genetic immunotherapy?
Genetic immunotherapy seems to be more promising.
2. According to the article what might be the role of high-sugar diet in relation to cancer?
Warburg effect mentioned in this article suggest that people could prevent themselves from specific type of cancer by eating healthy food. Insulin is connected with cancer, that's why people should avoid sugar in their diet.
3. Do you think that metformin (the drug known to have remarkable effect on inhibiting cancer growth) should be prescribed as the way to prevent cancer?
A lot of more research should be done just to be sure that metformin is safe and have no negative effect on human health.
1. In your opinion which cancer therapy seems more promising: the one targeting cancer cells metabolism or the genetic immunotherapy?
ReplyDeleteAs I know anything about cancer not every therapy can be good to everybody there is no one cure for this disease even if we are talking about the same type. So for some people cells metabolism can be great but others can be die because use of it. It great that there is more options for curing people even if not all thearapies are good for everyone.
2. According to the article what might be the role of high-sugar diet in relation to cancer?
I don't know anything about connection sugar with cancer. I know one that obesity can lead you to some cancer related diseases like MDS. High sugra diet can lead you to obesity and this can lead you to cancer.
3. Do you think that metformin (the drug known to have remarkable effect on inhibiting cancer growth) should be prescribed as the way to prevent cancer?
If this medicine can help why not, but if it has more cons then pros I would reconsider this. In Poland there is big issue with drugs refund so I think that bigger plus would be full drugs refund on drugs which can save your life. Sometimes even when you have got money you can't buy medicine which can save your life.