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Science/Tech See other Science/Tech Articles Title: Nanodevice demonstrates potential to distinguish between prostate cancer and benign enlarged prostate DUARTE, Calif., May 23, 2012 — Prostate cancer can be difficult to diagnose without an invasive procedure, such as a tissue biopsy, to confirm the presence of cancerous cells. City of Hope researchers validated that a nanodevice they developed could distinguish between prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia. Jennifer Linehan, M.D., a surgical fellow in City of Hope’s Division of Urology and Urologic Oncology is presenting findings from the study at the 2012 Annual Meeting for the American Urological Association in Atlanta. “The objective of our study was to compare how our nanodevice binds to stromal tissue found in prostate cancers versus tissue from benign prostatic hyperplasia,” said Linehan. “Our current tests for screening prostate cancer are not precise enough, and cancer diagnosis can be difficult to confirm without an additional, invasive procedure.” Clinicians currently screen for prostate cancer by checking prostate specific antigen, or PSA, levels in the blood. If levels are abnormal, the clinician will check for cancer with an expensive and sometimes painful biopsy procedure. If the biopsy shows no cancer but PSA levels remain high over time, the physician will repeat the biopsy at further expense and more patient discomfort. Using the nanodevice to test the stroma in the biopsy sample could make the first biopsy all that is necessary. In the study, the research team collected frozen tissue samples of prostates that were surgically removed from 45 patients with Gleason sums ranging from 6 to 10. A Gleason scale is a tool commonly used by physicians to assess how aggressive a prostate cancer may be. A higher Gleason sum usually signals that the cancer is more aggressive, and the potential outcome is likely worse for the patient. Of the 35 samples, 18 contained prostate cancer and 17 contained benign prostatic hyperplasia. The samples were incubated with varying concentrations of the nanodevice, and then the intensity of their glow was measured. The nanodevice is a Y-shaped DNA molecule containing a fluorescent dye called fluorescein that glows under blue light. The researchers link a protein to each of the arms of the Y. These linked proteins include ligands that target the device to other proteins that are found in the body — like the enzymes called thioredoxin reductases, which are active in some cancers. “We observed a strong correlation between how intensely our nanodevice binds to the stroma in the presence of prostate cancer cells,” said Linehan. “The nanodevice binds less to hyperplasia, with the resulting glow noticeably less than that in prostate cancer.” The research team is also conducting studies of the nanodevice as a potential method for delivering targeted medications directly to the tumor. Research and development of the nanodevice has been supported by grants from the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health (CA136055) and the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program of the U.S. Army. About City of Hope City of Hope is a leading research, treatment and education center for cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases. Designated as a comprehensive cancer center, the highest honor bestowed by the National Cancer Institute, and a founding member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, City of Hope's research and treatment protocols advance care throughout the nation. City of Hope is located in Duarte, Calif., just northeast of Los Angeles, and is ranked as one of "America's Best Hospitals" in cancer by U.S.News & World Report. Founded in 1913, City of Hope is a pioneer in the fields of bone marrow transplantation and genetics. For more information, visit www.cityofhope.org or follow City of Hope on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or Flickr. Learn more >> Poster Comment: City of Hope was recently featured on C2C speaking of which: Sunday, May 27, 2012: George Knapp is joined by legendary conspiracy researcher, Jim Marrs, who'll expose information that the mainstream corporate media has refused to report-- the insidious alliances that make up a secret world, and shadowy deals of our nation’s past. Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
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Fighting Cancer: researcher Dr. Linda Malkas, from the City of Hope cancer research center, talked about the latest developments in fighting the disease. She observed that, in recent years, it has been discovered that there are a thousand cancer cell genes rather that merely one, thus eliminating the search for a "magic bullet" cure. Additionally, she said that scientists now realize that finding a cure requires both an understanding the molecular signature of the cancer as well as the genetic makeup of the person with the disease, likening it to a combination lock for each individual. Currently, she said, the "great hope" is to find chemical compounds which will only attack cancer cells and ignore their non-cancerous counterparts. Malkas expressed great optimism that such a development is "not decades away anymore."
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