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A TEAM OF researchers at Trinity College Dublin have identified why many people with oesophageal cancer are resistant to radiation therapy, paving the way for potential treatments that would be more effective at treating the disease.
According to the Irish Cancer Society, around 300 new cases of this form of cancer are diagnosed every year. Almost twice as many men get oesophageal cancer – which is a cancer of the food pipe – as women.
While treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy are commonly offered, they are not always effective.
The researchers managed to pinpoint that a particular molecule lost from cancer stem cells plays an important role in driving oesophageal cancer’s resistance to treatment.
Assistant Professor Dr Stephen Maher said: “Our findings strongly suggest that it is the cancer stem cell population that we need to destroy if treatment is going to be effective in our oesophageal cancer patients”.
The number of people getting the disease is sharply on the rise, with incidence rates up by 600% over the past three decades, with these numbers set to continue rising in the coming years.
A majority of patients suffer resistance to radiation therapy and, to date, there had been no way to test who would respond well to therapy.
The team identified tumour cells that had developed similar characteristics of stem cells.
By adopting stem cell-like features, these cancer cells are able to drive and maintain the growth of tumours and help to repopulate the tumour cells damaged by radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
Dr Niamh Lynam-Lennon found that that creating a synthetic version of the molecule usually lost from cancer stem cells – called miR-17 – could enhance the effectiveness for patients when used as an addition to radiotherapy.
She said: “Interestingly, in the lab we found that if we put a synthetic version of miR-17 into the resistant cells they became more sensitive to radiation.
This is a real possibility as a number of other synthetic miR-molecules are currently in clinical trials for treating other diseases.
The Trinity team’s paper was published in the journal Oncotarget.
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what about when you agree verbally while thinking “i will in me hole”. Not that men would do that of course but it sounds like it could be a marriage saver.
If I didn’t agree to disagree, I’d still be a virgin.
Good one.
Peter Crouch:
‘Peter..if you hadn’t been a professional footballer what would you have been?’
Peter…’A virgin’
Woman!
They don’t be well
Just agree with her, you will live longer
Sitting back beer in paw and bowl of M&M’s on desk just waitin to see how this goes down. …..
I want M&M’s now after reading that.
and I want a beer
I’ll happily share. Have about five packs here n a 24 slab. Should be just enough to sit back n watch the sh!t fly on this topic!!
See last comment Brian. Drag your ass over pal. It should be fun!
How come Brian gets an invite? Is there a smell off me or something?
Move over Glenard ya fat b@stard n get a beer into ya. You were already here when I asked. Easy on that whacky baccy till later. This could be fun!
You mean you hadn’t already??
What time will the wife get home?
when she’s finished at the party Paul..
Me don’t understand women, and most of the time women don’t understand themselves. S.i.t
I had a long term relationship for two weeks recently.
Big mistake.
I knew I should have jumped ship earlier but she was a bit clingy and emotional so I hung on for her sake but then I knew she was never going to change so I did the honourable thing and texted her goodbye.
So guys.
Take my advice.
Keep your freedom.
Duffy’s Circus.
One night and one night only.
The only thing men should know is that the woman is always right, even when she’s wrong but never call her out on it.
It’s easier all round and you’ll live longer.
Hmmmmmmm………
Do not disagree and throw me a can will ya ffs
Heads up… catch it… good on ya girl nice catch! Now let’s sit back n watch… Some MnM’s left there for you too. Put them aside for you cos Genard is a hungry ba$tard!
*Glenard. Bit tipsy, Ooops!
The only people who should marry are those who enjoy endless bickering. AKA morons.
@Beararse yep haha and proud of it. I rule the house. And if women ruled the world out would be done right!
My bf just knows I am right all time end of story. He wants to stay he knows the deal. Women should rule the world Barr Burton and her ilk.
A perfect example of a comment I should stay away from drunk or sober but just cant! Cough.. controlling freak… cough…. cough
Think you’ve had enough of them cans.
I’ll take the rest before you say something you’ll regret
Too feckin late I think. Hic…
#mgtow
@paul, that’s horseshit, I would never agree with that suggestion
have your say