Comments on: Tumor Suppressors and Oncogenes

By: Walter

Walter — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 03:31:44 +0000

Thanks for the compliment Chrysalis Angel, I’ve worked very hard on the site. I’m glad you continue to visit and hope I can continue to write articles that inform and engage you.

By: Chrysalis Angel

Chrysalis Angel — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 10:07:28 +0000

Yes, that was the study. Initially it sounded like they may well have made an interesting find and connection. Sadly, cancer is fraught with challenges to find a cure, or true prevention. Dr. Charles has an interesting post on HIV and some rather questionable research regarding a study being done. I have always felt they needed to look into the immune system on the prevention of cancers. Although, I am in no way a scientist, just an interested bystander.That said..boosting a normally funcitoning immune system is not a good idea from what I understand. That would be an interesting topic. People take supplements to do this, and yet strange things can happen from doing such things. People can develop temporary alopecia ( this happened to a friend of mine), and who knows what else. There has even been controversy over vitamin supplements. Thank you for your return comments. I think you have a great site here. I'm glad I've found you.

By: Walter

Walter — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 05:01:10 +0000

The study you’re referring to identified a 32-base-pair deletion in the coding region of a gene called CCR5 (chemokine (C-C motif) receptor 5) that was found to confer a strong resistance to HIV in individuals with two copies of the allele (meaning mutated CXCR4 gene) and delayed AIDS progression in individuals with one copy. CCR5, also known as CXCR4, acts with the CD4 protein to support HIV entry into cells. CXCR4 is also highly expressed in tumor cells.

The mutation was found at a very high frequency in the population and it was initially thought that some selection, possibly bubonic plague and smallpox, drove it’s spread. However, more recent work has shown no evidence for positive selection and that the pattern of genetic variation at the allele is similar to the rest of the genome.

Yes, there are many interesting studies being done. The problem with cancer is that it’s not a single disease but a wide range of different diseases of which there are well over a hundred types.

By: Chrysalis Angel

Chrysalis Angel — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 11:39:44 +0000

I always find these reads interesting. It is interesting the fail safes the body has to protect itself. I did know they feel there a numerous assaults before the cancer cells form, thereby overriding all the stops along the way. It’s a strange feeling to sit on the examining table and be told your DNA is damaged. I remember thinking what on earth does that mean! I had no family history, no risks, I was 36..I kick boxed 4 times a week. I was in excellent shape and yet…

On another topic, I saw some discussion on the 32 sequence related to the black plague and HIV, are you familiar with their studies of this? Interesting stuff. Now it seems some feel there are no connections, yet, why then are there some, that never contract full blown AIDS?

I can not think of the man’s name at present, it’s been some years now, but his blood was being studied. I realize advancements in medicine have helped many to stave off the disease, not unlike Tamoxifen, and such trying to stave of recurrence of cancer. So many interesting studies being done, but still no where near a cure.