This blog is devoted to BIOL 6988, a graduate level seminar in the biological sciences at Youngstown State University. While targeted towards graduate students, BIOL 6988 actively incorporates undergraduate participants in their scholastic endeavors in the biological sciences. This blog is intended as a educational tool not just for YSU students and faculty, but for anyone who wishes to contribute to an active-learning environment.
Hats off to Frank for his intriguing presentation coving the anti-cancer properties of podophyllotoxin analogues. Cancer research is always looking for new ways and methods of treatment and Frank’s research aims to focus on podophyllotoxin analogues. The podophyllotoxin is derived from the podophyllum species of plants, and its mechanism of action is to prevent polymerization of microtubules necessary in mitosis. His research suggests that the one of the analogues of the toxin does induce cell apoptosis in Jurkat cell line to a degree. In addition, the compound caused a significant number of cells to be arrested at the G2 phase, which precedes mitosis. This could be due to podophyllotoxin’s mechanism of preventing the formation of the mitotic spindle. Another approach Frank covered was to study the effect podophyllotoxin has on metastasis, by examining cell-cell, cell-matrix, and migration. Finding the effects on these will allow us to better understand podophyllotoxin’s usefulness as an anti-cancer compound. So my question is, during the Q&A it was mentioned that it maybe more beneficial to develop drugs which are less toxic and/or kill fewer cancer cells. Why is that?
One of the biggest fears associated with a cancer diagnosis is the possibility of metastasis. As Frank mentioned, there are already strong options for treating cancer contained to one area to include chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation.
If this research were to lead to methods for reversing/treating the detrimental effects of metastasis, it could save and enhance the lives of so many cancer patients! Metastasis is often related to a grim prognosis and uncertainty. Chemotherapy, although effective, truly takes a tole on the immune system. Developing a technique to be as potent as, but less toxic than chemotherapy would be cutting edge. The idea would be to kill the cancer cells without compromising the healthy ones. If science can give physicians a way to shrink and confine cancer cells, doctors can surgically remove the tumor. I think Frank's work is so interesting and could bring many useful and promising advancements to cancer research.
Frank's research is really great and he did a wonderful work on the presentation too.
I agree with Jessica because most of the cancer drugs and chemotherapies are toxic to healthy cells. If there can be a way of killing only the cancerous cells without harming the good ones, most people will survive it.
I hope more research will be done to find the potential of podophyllotoxin in treating cancer. Who knows, this may be the ground breaking solution the cancer!
I enjoyed Frank's presentation, he did a good job. Really cancer is a threat to most if not all. It has been widely researched on, so far chemotherapy, radiation and surgeries have little contained it. since they also affect healthy cells thus compromising the immune system.
I concur wit Jessica, if podophyllotoxin mechanism which has an effect on metastasis is advanced up to the point of determining its effect on healthy cells, then this natural way of treatment will be a breakthrough in fighting cancer.
It is my hope that podophyllotoxins in plants will be explored to its fullest potential. Perhaps, its the mechanism that can be able to shrink and confine cancer cells for easy removal through surgery.
Frank did a great job presenting a very interesting topic that pertains to everyone as I'm sure cancer has had an effect on many people. I know it has my family.
Finding a technique as effective and less toxic than chemotherapy would be beneficial to so many lives. If this technique were to be designed to target only cancer cells without compromising healthy cells, the patient would have a greater quality of life and it may offer a chance for researchers to eradicate specific cancers.
Hello folks! Once again, I was at an interview for a graduate school and was unable to come to seminar. However, I would still like to contribute to this thread. As for the question that Nathan asked, this can allow a way to treat cancer that is less harmful than chemotherapy or radiation, but still as effective. This can also contribute the patient's quality of life during and after treatment.
I was also away for this seminar but it sounds like Frank's talk was very interesting! As for Nate's question, I think that producing a drug that is less toxic would be very beneficial for cancer patients because it is going to give them less side effects and not produce as many changes to the immune system. These drugs could target the cancer cells individually and allow doctors to decide how they can remove the cancer or possibly get the cancer cells to a size where they will no longer metastasize and keep them in the body if it is too difficult to remove and the patient can continue to live a more healthy life. These drugs would be a great discovery for cancer patients!
So, I missed this seminar talk, as well, but I still wanted to contribute.
Being able to target solely the cancerous cells is highly beneficially. If this approach enables us to no longer use radiation and chemotherapy, both detrimental to human health, the quality of life cancer patients have could be greatly improved. Having had cancer touch my family and some of my close friends I have seen firsthand how exhausting cancer treatment is for the patients undergoing it. The use of a podophyllotoxin based treatment has potential to improve quality of care for patients as an additional method to treat cancer without the need for a "treatment" that ironically kills the patient along with the cancer.
Hats off to Frank for his intriguing presentation coving the anti-cancer properties of podophyllotoxin analogues. Cancer research is always looking for new ways and methods of treatment and Frank’s research aims to focus on podophyllotoxin analogues. The podophyllotoxin is derived from the podophyllum species of plants, and its mechanism of action is to prevent polymerization of microtubules necessary in mitosis. His research suggests that the one of the analogues of the toxin does induce cell apoptosis in Jurkat cell line to a degree. In addition, the compound caused a significant number of cells to be arrested at the G2 phase, which precedes mitosis. This could be due to podophyllotoxin’s mechanism of preventing the formation of the mitotic spindle. Another approach Frank covered was to study the effect podophyllotoxin has on metastasis, by examining cell-cell, cell-matrix, and migration. Finding the effects on these will allow us to better understand podophyllotoxin’s usefulness as an anti-cancer compound.
ReplyDeleteSo my question is, during the Q&A it was mentioned that it maybe more beneficial to develop drugs which are less toxic and/or kill fewer cancer cells. Why is that?
One of the biggest fears associated with a cancer diagnosis is the possibility of metastasis. As Frank mentioned, there are already strong options for treating cancer contained to one area to include chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation.
ReplyDeleteIf this research were to lead to methods for reversing/treating the detrimental effects of metastasis, it could save and enhance the lives of so many cancer patients! Metastasis is often related to a grim prognosis and uncertainty. Chemotherapy, although effective, truly takes a tole on the immune system. Developing a technique to be as potent as, but less toxic than chemotherapy would be cutting edge. The idea would be to kill the cancer cells without compromising the healthy ones. If science can give physicians a way to shrink and confine cancer cells, doctors can surgically remove the tumor. I think Frank's work is so interesting and could bring many useful and promising advancements to cancer research.
Frank's research is really great and he did a wonderful work on the presentation too.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Jessica because most of the cancer drugs and chemotherapies are toxic to healthy cells. If there can be a way of killing only the cancerous cells without harming the good ones, most people will survive it.
I hope more research will be done to find the potential of podophyllotoxin in treating cancer. Who knows, this may be the ground breaking solution the cancer!
I enjoyed Frank's presentation, he did a good job. Really cancer is a threat to most if not all. It has been widely researched on, so far chemotherapy, radiation and surgeries have little contained it. since they also affect healthy cells thus compromising the immune system.
ReplyDeleteI concur wit Jessica, if podophyllotoxin mechanism which has an effect on metastasis is advanced up to the point of determining its effect on healthy cells, then this natural way of treatment will be a breakthrough in fighting cancer.
It is my hope that podophyllotoxins in plants will be explored to its fullest potential. Perhaps, its the mechanism that can be able to shrink and confine cancer cells for easy removal through surgery.
Frank did a great job presenting a very interesting topic that pertains to everyone as I'm sure cancer has had an effect on many people. I know it has my family.
ReplyDeleteFinding a technique as effective and less toxic than chemotherapy would be beneficial to so many lives. If this technique were to be designed to target only cancer cells without compromising healthy cells, the patient would have a greater quality of life and it may offer a chance for researchers to eradicate specific cancers.
Hello folks! Once again, I was at an interview for a graduate school and was unable to come to seminar. However, I would still like to contribute to this thread. As for the question that Nathan asked, this can allow a way to treat cancer that is less harmful than chemotherapy or radiation, but still as effective. This can also contribute the patient's quality of life during and after treatment.
ReplyDeleteI was also away for this seminar but it sounds like Frank's talk was very interesting!
ReplyDeleteAs for Nate's question, I think that producing a drug that is less toxic would be very beneficial for cancer patients because it is going to give them less side effects and not produce as many changes to the immune system. These drugs could target the cancer cells individually and allow doctors to decide how they can remove the cancer or possibly get the cancer cells to a size where they will no longer metastasize and keep them in the body if it is too difficult to remove and the patient can continue to live a more healthy life.
These drugs would be a great discovery for cancer patients!
Hi everyone,
ReplyDeleteSo, I missed this seminar talk, as well, but I still wanted to contribute.
Being able to target solely the cancerous cells is highly beneficially. If this approach enables us to no longer use radiation and chemotherapy, both detrimental to human health, the quality of life cancer patients have could be greatly improved. Having had cancer touch my family and some of my close friends I have seen firsthand how exhausting cancer treatment is for the patients undergoing it. The use of a podophyllotoxin based treatment has potential to improve quality of care for patients as an additional method to treat cancer without the need for a "treatment" that ironically kills the patient along with the cancer.