TEACHABLE MEDICAL NEWS

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Tag: cancer

Can we chase down and kill the hiding cancer cells in our bodies?

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On August 25, 2025

In lymphatic and immune system

Teachable moment in classrooms:

  1. cellular basis of life chapter – DNA specifies protein structure
  2. blood chapter – role of red bone marrow in hemopoesis
  3. immune system chapter – development of T and B cells and their role in the immune response
  4. immune system chapter – structure of antibodies and their binding to specific target molecules

The news item:  Recently the following news item appeared online:

Talvey Giving Patients With Heavily Pretreated Multiple Myeloma ‘a New Lease on Life’

The recent FDA approval of Talvey for heavily pretreated multiple myeloma results in an improved response to therapy and a manageable side effect profile.

The report describes that the Talvey treatment is given to multiple myeloma patients whose cancer returned despite several previous treatment with conventional drugs. The report also describes the several side effects of Talvey treatment.

So, Why Do I Care??  Every year multiple myeloma kills over 12,000 people in the USA alone. This type of cancer frequently reappears after conventional cancer treatments, and any new treatment that extends patient life after previous treatments are exhausted, is important to research.

Plain English, Please!!! First, let’s talk about what multiple myeloma is. This disorder represents a cancerous, uncontrolled cell division of plasma cells in the red bone marrow. A plasma cell is a type of white blood cell that produces antibodies during immune response. When the cancerous plasma cells quickly multiply and overtake the red bone marrow, fewer red blood cells and platelets are made, leading to fatigue, tiredness and easy bleeding.

Second, let’s talk about how Talvey works. If we want the immune system to kill cancer cells it would make sense to bring the immune system’s cells right to the cancer cells. Metaphorically speaking, picture

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How can a new combination drug treatment fight childhood brain cancer with increased effectiveness?

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On February 27, 2024

In cellular basis of life, nervous system

TeachableMedicalNews article 02272024

Teachable moment in classrooms:

  1. cellular basis of life chapter – cell cycle, and phases of mitosis
  2. cellular basis of life chapter – concept of gene mutation leading to protein malfunction
  3. cellular basis of life chapter – enzymes are proteins that catalyze chemical reactions
  4. nervous tissue chapter – functions of the neuroglial cells

The news item:  Recently this reporting appeared online:

Novartis drug combo shows promise in childhood brain cancer

An oral drug combination by Swiss pharmaceuticals company Novartis showed promise in treating a subgroup of patients suffering from a common childhood brain cancer in a trial.

 

The article describes a new drug combination for the treatment of childhood brain cancer, namely low grade glioma. The article states that about 1000 children are diagnosed yearly with this brain cancer, and that the study participants were between the ages 1 and 17. The new treatment slowed the cancer progression more than standard chemotherapy.

So, Why Do I Care??  Brain cancer in children is very disruptive to their development and education, and even worse, it can end their lives. In addition, parents, siblings, relatives, classmates all suffer emotional trauma. New treatments that slow the progression of these gliomas promise fewer disruptions and longer survival.

Plain English, Please!!!   First, let’s talk about what a glioma is. Inside our brain and spinal cord there are cells called neuroglia. They support the working of neurons. When mutations cause the neuroglial cells to divide continually, then an abnormal accumulation of neuroglial cells results, thus a glioma forms. The most frequent mutations in gliomas are the ones that activate MEK kinase and the BRAF kinase enzymes. The normal function of these enzymes is to act inside the cells to add phosphate groups to proteins. Those phosphorylated proteins stimulate the start of cell division.

Second, let’s talk about how mutations of the MEK and BRAF kinases contribute to glioma development. Under normal circumstances the kinases are active only during interphase when a growth stimulating

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Can a newly discovered immune cell kill all cancers in our bodies?

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On November 28, 2021

In cellular basis of life, lymphatic and immune system

TeachableMedicalNews article 11282021

Teachable moment in classrooms:

  1. cellular basis of life chapter – mitosis
  2. cellular basis of life chapter – many types of receptor proteins are located in the cell membrane
  3. immune system chapter – the roles of white blood cells in immune defense

The news item:  Recently the following news report was published:

Immune discovery ‘may treat all cancer’

Research is at an early stage but scientists said it had huge potential for destroying cancers.

 

The article states that researchers found a new type of T cell that has the potential to attack cancer cells from virtually all regions of the body, and that potential is based on a molecule called MR1.

So, Why Do I Care??  Various types of cancers kill over 600,000 people in the USA. Cancer treatments vary according to the type and stage of the cancer. Any discovery that opens up the possibility of a unified cancer treatment is a reason for renewed hope among current and future cancer patients.

Plain English, Please!!!

First, let’s talk about what cancer is. Our cells have to divide (undergo mitosis) to make new cells for repair or to replace worn out cells. When cell keep on dividing even after the tissue repair or cell

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Can you strengthen the immune system of cancer patients in chemotherapy treatment?

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On December 21, 2019

In cardiovascular system, cellular basis of life, lymphatic and immune system

TeachableMedicalNews article 12202019

Teachable moment in classrooms:

  1. cellular basis of life chapter – formation of cancer cells
  2. cellular basis of life chapter – DNA and mitosis
  3. blood chapter – formation of white blood cells in red bone marrow
  4. immune system chapter – immune protection by white blood cells 

The news item:  The pharmaceutical Neulasta was in the news recently:

Mylan CEO promises Neulasta biosimilar will offer “significant savings” for patients

It’s been nearly two years since the pharmaceutical giant took tremendous heat for the rising cost of EpiPens

The article mentions that a new company will be making a similar and cheaper drug to Neulasta, and that Neulasta is used to reduce infections in patients during cancer treatment.

So, Why Do I Care??  Cancer patients are frequently treated with drugs to kills the cancer cells. Such chemotherapy drugs are used to treat most of the 1.7 million new cancer cases each year in the USA.  Chemotherapy treatments have many damaging side effects on the patients.  Minimizing of those side effects improves patient comfort, survival, and the success of the chemotherapy treatment.

Plain English, Please!!! First, let’s; talk about chemotherapy.  Cancers grow by cells dividing faster than normal cells of the body, and the chemotherapy drugs are used to stop or slow the division of cancer cells.  One side effect of chemotherapy treatment is that normal cells are also stopped from dividing. One of those normally quickly dividing group of cells is located in the red bone marrow.

Second, let’s talk about red bone marrow.  This red, toothpaste-like mush of cells is trapped inside our spongy bones, like breastbone, pelvic bone, and others.  Millions of new red and white blood cells are created by cell division in the red bone marrow every day.  Picture cell division as a car driving at normal speed; you have to keep your foot on the gas pedal.  Chemotherapy drugs are like a foot on the brake pedal; as they slow down cell division, they slow down red and white blood cell production in the bone marrow.

Third, let’s talk about white blood cells.  The white blood cells defend our bodies against bacteria, viruses and fungi. Every day we lose thousands of white blood cells during that defense, so we need constant replacement.  When the cell division in the red bone marrow is slowed by chemotherapy drugs, the replacement of white blood cells slows down, and bacteria and virus infections can get a foothold in the body.  Neulasta (and similar drugs) speeds up white blood cell creation; they step on the gas pedal of cell division in the bone marrow even during chemotherapy treatment.  That provides enough white blood cells to defend the body better against invaders during chemotherapy treatment.

 

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