More on nanoparticles

See that photo? It may represent the future of cancer treatment. What you see are nanoparticles both within and entering a cancerous tumour cell carrying a dangerous payload. The particles deliver RNA interfering material that essentially attacks genetic material in malignant cells and kills them. This treatment is delivered through the bloodstream and the nanoparticles seek out the cancerous cells. According to to an article from Gizmodo:

"The 70-nanometer attack bots—made with two polymers and a protein that attaches to the cancerous cell's surface—carry a piece of RNA called small-interfering RNA (siRNA), which deactivates the production of a protein, starving the malign cell to death. Once it has delivered its lethal blow, the nanoparticle breaks down into tiny pieces that get eliminated by the body in the urine. The most amazing thing is that you can send as many of these soldiers as you want, and they will keep attaching to the bad guys, killing them left, right, and center, and stopping tumors. According to Davis, "the more [they] put in, the more ends up where they are supposed to be, in tumour cells." While they will have to finish the trials to make sure that there are no side-effects whatsoever, the team is very happy with the successful results and it's excited about what's coming."

This therapy has the potential to rid the body of cancer without the devastating side effects of chemo and other treatments. You can read more about the subject here.


Ah yes, the pop culture moment. I've been rediscovering Joy Division, and came across a video of a band called Steel Harmony doing a cover of their song, Transmission. The cool part? The cover band is a Caribbean steel drum band. Enjoy.

Personalized Cancer Vaccines

This story is very encouraging.  CNN.com ran a story about brain cancer vaccines. Unlike traditional vaccines, these are not given to people prior to developing a disease, but after patients have developed brain cancer. In a nutshell, doctors create a personalized vaccine based on the DNA fingerprint of an individual's cells. This allows the immune system to differentiate between healthy and "intruder" cells, and causes them to attack. Much like a smart bomb, the body can deliver a very precise assault on the cancer cells.  Although this therapy is only effective in 40% of cancer patients whose cancer cells produce a certain protein, it is very promising therapy. The article does state these trials are ongoing and the long-term effectiveness of the vaccine is still being studied. Similar vaccines are also being studied for use with prostate cancer patients. For more information, check the following link for the article and video.

Since myeloma cells also produce a specific protein, perhaps this type of therapy could also be developed for MM patients, not to mention for just about every cancer. This is a very promising and encouraging therapy. Hell, I might just make it to my retirement after all.

Hairpiece

One of those Internet treasures. Check out the hair and the lip synching.

Shakin' and bakin' cancer cells to death

Unlike normal cells, cancer cells don't have an off switch and ignore the brain's efforts to trigger apoptosis, or cell death. Over the past few months, I've seen/read two reports of people using metals that bond to the cancer cells. Radio waves or a magnetic fields are then used to kill the cancer cells leaving the healthy cells unaffected. Could this be the future of cancer therapy? Here's a bit on both developments.

Last October, 60 Minutes ran a story about a man named John Kanzius. Suffering from leukemia, Kanzius built a radio wave machine he hoped would destroy cancer cells without chemotherapy. The main idea is to inject a cancer patient with gold nanoparticles, expose the patient to radio waves and cook the cancer cells to death. Unfortunately, Kazius lost his battle with leukemia, but created much excitement among cancer researchers. Here are three links to Kanzius' machine from various news programs:

• Kanzius Story Part 1
• Kanzius Story Part 2
• Kanzius Story Part 3 

Science Daily recently ran a story about using gold and metal microdiscs connected to brain cancer-seeking antibodies. These nanoparticles bond to cancer cells, and when exposed to a magnetic field they cause the cells to oscillate. This shaking triggers apoptosis and the cancer cells die. Although human trials are still years away, this is a promising therapy. To read the article, click here.

Both of these potential treatments are a huge improvement from chemo and other existing therapies. As my family doctor would put it, it's using a BB gun to kill a mouse, instead of using an atom bomb. The possible lack of side effects is greatly encouraging.

I leave you with the following video, from Iceland's Sigur Ros. It's a few years old (and you can tell by the fact it's the Craig Kilborn show), but it's amazing. Enjoy.

Another Results Day

Good news to share. My blood tests were fine and the skeletal survey showed no lesions. My oncologist said the disease could remain indolent for years. I will still need a set of blood tests every 2 months, another set every 4, and another skeletal survey in a year. Should things change I will start treatment, which will most likely be a stem cell transplant. Although I am relieved,  am also very aware the disease could progress at any time. And that begs the question...

I wonder what flips the switch from having an indolent myeloma to needing treatment? What triggers this progression? How does my body "know" keep this disease dormant? According to my oncologist, I cannot control the disease's progression and should just live a normal life. However, I am not convinced the disease is beyond my control. 

My strategy - thinking positive, lowering stress, making better food choices (something I struggle with), taking vitamin D and curcumin supplements, and "willing" my body to kill the myeloma cells. The former might sound goofy, but hey, it's free and can't do any harm. Besides, when dealing with a disease that at times makes me feel helpless, it's empowering, and somewhat similar to meditation. Since I have very high iron levels, I've been advised to skip multivitamins. He's still unsure of what's causing the retention of iron, but believes it's due to the myeloma.

Thanks to all of you for your kind emails, and to fellow MM patients, keep on fighting. More effective therapies are just around the corner.

Rockin' Birds

In about an hour from the time I write this I leave for the next results appointment. It's a strange feeling, knowing in just a few hours I'll either receive great news or hear that the disease has progressed and I'll need to start treatment. Of course, I am hoping for the best.

Until I post more later today, thought I would share the following video I saw on Boing Boing.



Ah, internets... is there anything you don't have?

Anticancer Nanomedicines

Yeesh. I should update this thing more often. On the myeloma side of life, I have a skeletal survey on January 19th and a results appointment on the 25th, after which I will share the news. Thankfully for all cancer patients, the pace of progress in treatment options is staggering. Case in point - anticancer nanomedicines, a way of delivering chemotherapy more effectively, precisely and in higher dosage without affecting surrounding tissue. I'm unsure how this particular therapy could help myeloma patients, since our cancer tends to be spread and not localized, but still - one advance leads to another, which is always promising. 

In dealing with this disease, Myeloma Canada has been an excellent resource and source of support. They've recently added a feature called Myeloma Connection, where patients submit their videos about dealing with the disease. Click here to visit the website and view the videos. The also feature a webcast on Understanding and Managing Side Effects.

This post's pop culture moment features John Lydon's appearance on Judge Judy in 1997. Sure, it's dated but still great fun to watch. Don't know the guy (I know my readers vary greatly)? He was once known as Johnny Rotten, singer of the Sex Pistols, singer of PiL and later a host of various tv efforts. Love him or hate him, he's a true individual.