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Biotech / Medical : Sugen (SUGN) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Miljenko Zuanic who wrote (518)	7/20/1999 11:14:00 AM
From: gao seng	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 550

Some modern cancer research is currently focused on inhibiting cell growth. This approach is directly the result of Folkman. The idea of growth inhibition substances to regulate the growth and reproduction of particular cells is not new. For instance, it has been understood for many years that the liver cells stop reproducing once a particular number of cells are present, but if the liver is damaged in someway, the remaining cells are somehow stimulated to begin reproduction again. Cancer is a disease that results from a change in the control of normal cell reproduction. As such, it produces compunds required for it's continued growth. Folkman finally got someone to research this to see what compounds are being produced by the cancer, and he came up with endostatin and angiostatin. But what happens to the cancer when it is under attack? Does it produce more angiostatin and endostatin? No, it apparently produces VEGF! Simply put, this makes VEGF a more critical compound to the survival of the cancer. It seems to me that this article is significant, and expands upon the spirit of the Folkman discovery. Determining which compounds are present or greater in number in a significant mass in a body with cancer, but are absent or lower in number in a body without cancer. Determining which compounds become significantly more abundant when the cancer is under attack is a significant finding. I also like the Interleukin story. In one article they say they can eradicate all the cancers in the body, but it also kills the body. In a milder form, they apply the treatment and watch the cancer disappear before their eye, but the patient suffers the worst pain she has ever known. I can only imagine. One characteristic of cancer is called Anaplasia (the other two are hyperplasia and metastasis). This characteristic gives the cancer the ability to hide itself from the immune system, which thinks they are just undifferentiated cells. Imagine when these cancer cells are mutated to give off a signal to the immune system that they are infectious cells! Wow, can you imagine the pain of your body turning against a large mass of cancer! Yes it is very interesting research. Thanks for your response. I realize us cellular newbies are quite a burden, and a laughingstock. So I realize that you may not take me seriously, since I am a rather recent newcomer to the boards. But I think I have an ability to discern important events that are not realized as such until a later time. I think this is such an event. But I may be wrong, I am not entirely familiar with the body of literature out there on the subject, and the fact that VEGF is produced by cancer in great quantities when it is under attack form radiation in a significant discovery, but perhaps it is also old news.