Study Shows Treatment May Cause Cancer to Spread
April 09, 2007 by
A new US study reports that a treatment-induced growth factor called TGF-beta helps contribute to the spread of advanced cancer.
Anti-tumor therapies work only partially or not at all in patients with advanced cancer, and tumors keep growing after treatment according to a research team at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville, Tenn.
The research team, led by Carlos Arteaga, M.D., reports in the May issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation that chemotherapy and radiation increase circulating levels of the growth factor TGF-beta, circulating cancer cells, and tumor metastases in a mouse model metastatic breast cancer.
The scientists also stated that blocking TGF-beta in mice prevented tumor metasases. This indicates that the us of TGF-beta inhibitors combined with primary cancer therapies may help patients.
The team had previously shown that a brief induction of TGF-beta in a mouse model of breast cancer can drastically raise the rate of metastasis.
They then noticed that a few clinical studied showed that chemotherapy and radiation treatment increase TGF-beta in patients or experimental tumors.
"We wondered ... if TGF-beta induced by anti-cancer therapies can serve as a survival signal for tumor cells, thus allowing them to withstand therapy and later recur," and this study shows that this appears to be the case, research team leader Dr. Carlos Arteaga, professor of medicine and cancer biology, and director of the Vanderbilt-Ingram Breast Cancer Program, said in a statement.
Radiation therapy and chemotherapeutic agents docetaxel and doxorubicin all increased TGF-beta levels as well as accelerated metastasis. This was blocked by neutralizing antibodies directed against TGF-beta.
Similar results have been observed with small molecule inhibitors of the TGF-beta type I receptor kinase.
"We speculate, based on these observations, that this will occur in some patients," Arteaga said.
Arteaga also said that several TGF-beta inhibitors are currently in clinical trials.
Anti-tumor therapies work only partially or not at all in patients with advanced cancer, and tumors keep growing after treatment according to a research team at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville, Tenn.
Study Shows Treatment May Cause Cancer to Spread
The research team, led by Carlos Arteaga, M.D., reports in the May issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation that chemotherapy and radiation increase circulating levels of the growth factor TGF-beta, circulating cancer cells, and tumor metastases in a mouse model metastatic breast cancer.
The scientists also stated that blocking TGF-beta in mice prevented tumor metasases. This indicates that the us of TGF-beta inhibitors combined with primary cancer therapies may help patients.
The team had previously shown that a brief induction of TGF-beta in a mouse model of breast cancer can drastically raise the rate of metastasis.
They then noticed that a few clinical studied showed that chemotherapy and radiation treatment increase TGF-beta in patients or experimental tumors.
"We wondered ... if TGF-beta induced by anti-cancer therapies can serve as a survival signal for tumor cells, thus allowing them to withstand therapy and later recur," and this study shows that this appears to be the case, research team leader Dr. Carlos Arteaga, professor of medicine and cancer biology, and director of the Vanderbilt-Ingram Breast Cancer Program, said in a statement.
Radiation therapy and chemotherapeutic agents docetaxel and doxorubicin all increased TGF-beta levels as well as accelerated metastasis. This was blocked by neutralizing antibodies directed against TGF-beta.
Similar results have been observed with small molecule inhibitors of the TGF-beta type I receptor kinase.
"We speculate, based on these observations, that this will occur in some patients," Arteaga said.
Arteaga also said that several TGF-beta inhibitors are currently in clinical trials.
Patients and their families have key roles to play in teaming up with doctors, to treat ovarian cancer. Their active participation in treatment decisions and cooperation in coping with treatment side-effects can facilitate success.
By Jenny Tansey | Published 4/26/2005 | Read more »
I had a friend who died of ovarian cancer a few years ago after a long battle, having beaten it five times with chemo.
By Terri Rimmer | Published 1/20/2006 | Read more »
Some foods actually contribute to the development of cancer; other foods lessen the risk. Lowering fat, calorie content, meat and alcohol consumption and switching from an animal-based diet to a plant-based diet may help prevent different kinds of cancer.
By M. Sottosanti | Published 9/10/2005 | Read more »
Colorectal cancer is a disease the can be treated using radiation therapy. It happens to be more effective against the spread of rectal cancer than colon cancer but still is a positive approach towards necessary treatment of both.
By Frank W. Thatcher Jr. | Published 9/18/2006 | Read more »
An overview of available cancer treatment options and the importance of discussing all options with your health care team. Part three in the Cancer Diagnosis, Treatment and Life Expectations series.
By Debra Cornelius | Published 6/20/2007 | Read more »
Prostate cancer patients who have pre-existing medical conditions should discuss treatment options before their treatment begins. Researchers have found that treatments can worsen the outcome for certain medical conditions.
By Patty Oh | Published 11/26/2007 | Read more »
|
|
Most Comments Today
- Oh No! Michael Jackson's Body and Brain Missing Is Michael Jackson's body and brain missing? According to many websites they... 31 Comments
- Michael Jackson is Missing The casket is missing, where is it? How did it disappear? 31 Comments
- Sarah Palin 2012? Sarah Palin 2012? 29 Comments
- Hot News Quickies - Thursday, July 9, 2009 News happens while you sleep - get your Hot News Quickies here! 28 Comments
- Real Estate: Renting Your Home and Bad Tenants If you decide to rent out your home, do a thorough reference check with previ... 26 Comments
- Every Day Heroes At every disaster, in every community, when people are hurting who are the fi... 24 Comments