Comments on: Take That, Cancer! http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/ideas/2012/10/take-that-cancer/ How human ingenuity is changing the way we live Thu, 13 Jun 2013 00:22:22 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4 By: Michael http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/ideas/2012/10/take-that-cancer/comment-page-1/#comment-1654 Michael Sun, 24 Feb 2013 20:16:01 +0000 http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/ideas/?p=4136#comment-1654 I think these are all wonderful and spectacular discoveries and/or developments. Cancer is one of the most frightening of diseases in developed countries, and I'm glad to see so many breakthroughs. But I think it's important to note that these are among the TOP breakthroughs or most promising. But if you look at the published literature in 2012, there is just a wealth of new discoveries out there! We're definitely not limited to just these top ten. For example, through unlocking the power of stem cells, Dr. Mick Bhatia discovered a dopamine antagonist drug (thioridazine) that, essentially, can "latch on" to cancer stem cells (can be thought of as cancer "mother" cells) and kill them while not affecting healthy cells. Amazing! So far, research indicates this could help stall or completely stop the spread of leukemias and potentially breast cancers, without causing any harm to normal stem cells! I think these are all wonderful and spectacular discoveries and/or developments. Cancer is one of the most frightening of diseases in developed countries, and I’m glad to see so many breakthroughs. But I think it’s important to note that these are among the TOP breakthroughs or most promising. But if you look at the published literature in 2012, there is just a wealth of new discoveries out there! We’re definitely not limited to just these top ten.

For example, through unlocking the power of stem cells, Dr. Mick Bhatia discovered a dopamine antagonist drug (thioridazine) that, essentially, can “latch on” to cancer stem cells (can be thought of as cancer “mother” cells) and kill them while not affecting healthy cells. Amazing! So far, research indicates this could help stall or completely stop the spread of leukemias and potentially breast cancers, without causing any harm to normal stem cells!

]]>