Dichloroacetate, nicknamed DCA, is a new compound discovered by the University of Alberta that shrinks cancer tumors. It has successfully worked with tissue from human lungs, chests, and brains, which were implanted into rats and then tested using the drug. It targets cancer cells, and kills them causing the tumors to shrink. It does not attack other healthy human cells that other treatments, like chemotherapy would. It is a new alternative to current treatments, that when used will not have side effects like hairless, and nausea. Clinical trials have only gone through preliminary stages, but the drug seems promising and has rocketed forward on its way to the shelves. It has passed every test with flying colors, and will seemingly be available soon. The goal of the researchers is to get funding from companies other than drug companies so that a cheap drug will be available, and help everyone. This is related to our current unit, where we are learning about the human body systems. Cancer of the lungs, heart, brain, or any other part of the body can lead to a harmful disruption of homeostasis. This new drug offers a way fro humans to stay healthy and away from one of the biggest homeostatic imbalance causes, cancer. Cancer can disrupt all of the human body systems, which are needed to function properly, and with this new research they will be able to do so. If the human body will never get cancer again, there will be far fewer deaths, or suffering, or homeostatic imbalances among our kind.
It says that DCA greatly reduces the tumor, so I assume that means it doesn't destroy it completely. Does that mean that the body is able to just deal with the rest of the tumor by itself once the drug has been applied, or does the body require several doses of the drug to take out the tumor completely?
DCA is a cancer treatment, similar to chemotherapy, so it does not completely kill the tumor like you said. It merely destroys a large number of the cells shrinking the tumor, and making it easier to survive with the tumor. It also cuts down on the harm of the tumor, because they are often so deadly because their size causes them to disrupt the function of vital organs.
According to: http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/CancerBasics/TheHistoryofCancer/the-history-of-cancer-cancer-treatment-radiation the discovery of radiation therapy to help cure and treat cancer was seemingly as important. It was discovered in 1896 by Willhelm Conrad Roentgen; and by 1899 was being used on cancer patients.
It says that DCA greatly reduces the tumor, so I assume that means it doesn't destroy it completely. Does that mean that the body is able to just deal with the rest of the tumor by itself once the drug has been applied, or does the body require several doses of the drug to take out the tumor completely?
ReplyDeleteDCA is a cancer treatment, similar to chemotherapy, so it does not completely kill the tumor like you said. It merely destroys a large number of the cells shrinking the tumor, and making it easier to survive with the tumor. It also cuts down on the harm of the tumor, because they are often so deadly because their size causes them to disrupt the function of vital organs.
DeleteWhat is another instance where scientists have discovered something as important as DCA in their fight against cancer?
ReplyDeleteAccording to: http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/CancerBasics/TheHistoryofCancer/the-history-of-cancer-cancer-treatment-radiation
Deletethe discovery of radiation therapy to help cure and treat cancer was seemingly as important. It was discovered in 1896 by Willhelm Conrad Roentgen; and by 1899 was being used on cancer patients.