Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC) is the 8th and 13th most common malignancy in the world for males and females, respectively, with the majority of malignancies of the upper aero-digestive tract being oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC) (Warnakulasuriya, 2009; Scully and Bagan, 2009; Nicole et al., 2010). The highest incidence of OSCC is found in India due to the increased preponderance of habits like chewing tobacco, betel quid and areca-nut which are the most important risk factors (Facompre et al., 2012). According to The Gujarat Cancer & Research Registry, the scenario is worst in Gujarat because 53.65% in males and 15.64% in females of all cancers are found to be Tobacco Related Cancers (TRCs) (National Cancer Registry Report, 2008). Despite the recent advances in first line treatments, the 5 year survival rate after treatment remains disappointingly low at about 15-50% for the past 3 decades (Carvalho et al., 2005; Prince and Ailles, 2008; Warnakulasuriya, 2009; McCullough et al., 2010). The resultant poor prognosis is owed to a low response rate to current therapeutic strategies, late stage diagnosis, high risk of primary site recurrence and aggressive metastases to loco-regional lymph nodes, strongly suggestive of an urge to improve the diagnostic capabilities and treatment efficacy.
Increasing experimental evidence supports the cancer stem cell model in HNSCC, which is in favor of a small proportion of cells with the capability of sustaining tumour formation and growth, self-renewal and differentiation in a tumour type and context dependent manner. These CSCs have a probable role in resistance to therapy, establishment of metastasis and recurrence which is allusive of the fact that targeted elimination of th...
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...more tumourigenic potential than by CD44+ marker. Also, c-Met+ /CD44+combination yielded tumours in 80% of cases while c-Met+/ALDH1+ displayed tumour formation in 66% cases (Sun and Wang, 2011). Thus c-Met has been proposed as a potent CSC marker in HNSCC but further investigation with a greater number of samples and a comparison of c-Met+ with other CSC and stemness markers could give a clear depiction (Sun and Wang, 2011).
Side Populations (SPs):
Identification of CSCs is widely done by the side population approach which involves elimination of Hoechst 33342. Hoechst 33342, a fluorescent DNA-binding dye, preferentially binds to A-T rich regions of tumourigenic cells. These SPs express high levels of the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter superfamily (e.g. MDR1, MRP1, ABCB5, ABCG2) that facilitates the efflux of this dye and other drugs (Zhang et al., 2009).
Jaggupilli A, Elkord E. Significance of CD44 and CD24 as Cancer Stem Cell Markers: An Enduring Ambiguity. Clin Dev Immunol. 2012.
Cancer is one of the 9 National Health Priority Areas (NHPA), areas which account for a significant portion of the burden of disease, but have sizeable potential for improvement. In Australia, CRC is the second most common cancer, after prostate (in men) and breast cancer (in women) (AIHW, Cancer incidence projections). The incidence has gradually increased (by 13% in males from 1982-2007) (AIHW, Cancer in Australia an overview). This is compounded by the ageing population and population growth, with 14,860 new cases in 2010 (http://www.cancer.org.au/about-cancer/types-of-cancer/bowel-cancer). This graph demonstrates this upward trend ((AIHW, Cancer incidence projections):
Strategy to target cancer stem cells: The identification of CSC is essential for development of better and effective therapeutic strategies. The drugs used in the current therapies and treatments target not only the tumor cells, but also, the norm...
Basal Cell Carcinoma often abbreviated as (BCC) is the most frequently appearing form of skin cancer. They are also referred to as Basal Cell Cancer. It was discovered along the way as skin cancer was being treated as different types with no specific period. The BCCs’ are uncontrolled growths that normally arise in the skin’s basal cells. These cells lie in the deepest layer of the epidermis which is the outermost layer of the skin. BCC’s are normally caused by a combination of two things; one is cumulative UV exposure and the other is intense occasional UV exposure. The most vulnerable, according to a research done, tend to be people with fair hair, blue eyes and fair skin and this is because they tend to burn easily. The BCCs’ may first appear as a small white flesh or a colored bump that may bleed. Other normal appearances may look like open sores, red patches on the skin, pink growths, shiny bumps or scars. 80% of Basal Cell Carcinoma cases are mainly found in the head and neck that is the body parts that are mainly exposed to the sun. The nose also tends to be most vulnerable and according to a recent study done, 40% of BCC that were diagnosed on the head and neck were adjacent to the nose.
10. Ryerson A, Peters E, Coughlin S, Chen V, Gillison M, Reichman M, Wu X, Chaturvedi A, Kawaoka K. Burden of Potentially Human Papillomavirus-associated Cancers of the Oropharynx and Oral cavity in the US, 1998-2003. American Cancer Society. Nov 2008; 113(10): 2901-2908.
Thyroid cancer starts in the thyroid gland, which is located under you Adam’s apple at the base of your neck. The described appearance of cancer in the thyroid is nodules, small or large bumps where the thyroid is, that you can feel. According to Cancer.org, about 1 in 20 nodules are cancerous in humans.
In 2013 about 580,350 Americans were projected to die of cancer, almost 1,600 people a day. Cancer remains the second most common cause of death in the US, accounting for nearly 1 of every 4 deaths (Cancer Facts). Doctors and scientists are always trying to discover new ways to help battle cancer as well as other diseases. Doctors have tried everything from plants to radiation to try and destroy cancerous cells. Instead of destroying them Scientists and doctors are now trying to replace the old cancerous cells. In order to replace these cells they will need new cells. Stem cell research is the newest way doctors are trying to help with diseases. There are different types of stem cells. Stem cells are cells found primarily in embryos, and they have not yet taken on the characteristics of any particular type of cell, such as bone, muscle tissue or brain matter. The newest research being done is with embryotic stem cells. Embryotic Stem cells have been used in medical therapies to aid patients with many types of diseases; that being said it is imperative that we continue researching, practicing, and funding these medical advancements.
Wang, K., Wu, X., & Huang, J. (2013, February 28). Cancer stem cell theory: therapeutic implications for nanomedicine. Retrieved December 12, 2013, from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3589204/
Although it is unclear whether or not MCC actually arises from problems with Merkel cells, the disease is named after a type of skin cell that resembles the infamous “touch cell” that can create a lethal tumor when it reproduces uncontrollably (“What is Merkel Cell Carcinoma?”). MCC is sometimes referred to as a neuroendocrine carcinoma, which means that it is a type of cancer that originates in the skin and is a result of the abnormal growth of cells that are involved in the nervous and endocrine systems. The disease is partially caused by Merkel cell polyomavirus, which is pretty common and mostly harmless; it can also be brought on by extreme exposure and/or damage from the sun (“What is Merkel Cell Carcinoma?”). In the beginning, Merkel cell carcinoma is exhibited by a small, painless bump on the surface of the skin that expands rapidly over time.
Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is also an uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells arising in the squamous cells, which is composed of most of the skins upper layers. Squa...
Many studies and research has gone into Tasmanian devil facial tumor disease, focusing on how it originated, how it is spread between the species, why it is so harmful and life threatening to the largest extant marsupials living, and what scientists are doing to stop it. Even though it seems like a simple disease to be taken care of, the overall effects of the disease are much more complex and life threating than they seem. There has been a dramatic loss in genetic diversity throughout the years since the disease originated. This paper will compare McCallum’s (2008), Miller et al.’s (2011), and Murchison’s (2008) research and studies on the comparison of other life threatening transmissible diseases, genetic diversities, origin of the disease, effects and transmission of the disease, and the endangerment of this marsupial.
• Wexner Med. Corp. "Oral Cancer and Tobacco." Oral Cancer and Tobacco. Ohio State University, Aug. 2010.
Pluripotent stem cells help in the process of regenerative medicine. These cells are able to take on many forms, which allows the body to help regenerate the parts needed in or on our body. The Asteria immunotherapy method aids patients in the area of cancer. Asterias’s research in this subject has led to an achievement of a 58% relapse-free remission rate. The associates at Asteria have wide ranging experience in these areas and are all confident that the therapies mentioned hold great opportunity for the upcoming
National Cancer Institute. 2 December 2013. April 2014. WHO. World Health Organization.
Blood and urine based biomarkers used in molecular pathology are only indicative of the average response of the cell population affected with little or no information of the range of response or variability form areas of tissue (Naddler and Langley 2001)