Archive for the tag 'tumor cells'

Circulating Tumor Cells Reveal Insights Into Lung Cancers - Washington Post


eYugoslavia.com
Circulating Tumor Cells Reveal Insights Into Lung Cancers
Washington Post - Jul 2, 2008
By Amanda Gardner WEDNESDAY, July 2 (HealthDay News) — A new technique for finding and analyzing stray cancer cells in the blood of lung cancer patients may make it possible for doctors to one day not only determine the genetic "signature" of
New test may help doctors track tumors in 'real time' USA Today
Doctors extract cancer cells from blood sample Reuters
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Diagnosis of Mesothelioma

Malignant mesothelioma detection, like other cancers, can be accomplished with imaging equipment, such as x-ray machines. But once detected, mesothelioma diagnosis is difficult for a number of reasons. First, there is a very extended time period between the exposure to asbestos and the onset of the disease, sometimes as long as 50 to 60 years. Patients would often not think to tell their doctors about working in an asbestos-related job many years earlier.

Second, the typical symptoms of mesothelioma, shortness of breath and coughing, are also symptoms of many other types of lung problems, both cancerous and non-cancerous. Thus, just because a person has these symptoms, it does not in any way provide a mesothelioma diagnosis.
Third, many types of tumors can exist in the serous cavities that are not mesothelioma. These other types of tumors can be non cancerous, or benign, that originate in the tissues of the serous membranes, other than the mesothelium. Or they can be tumors that have migrated from other organs with cancerous growths due to metastases.
Mesothelioma and Imaging Technologies
X-rays and other types of imaging technologies can be used to detect tumors or effusion (build up of fluid) in the body, including mesothelioma detection. A growth in the chest cavity will show up in an X-ray or MRI analysis. But these devices cannot directly determine the type of cancer or provide a mesothelioma diagnosis. They cannot determine whether the tumor is mesothelioma or originates from some other source.

Positron emission tomography (PET) is a type of diagnostic imaging scan that is used for malignant mesothelioma detection. PET scans use the emission of positrons (tiny particles that are emitted from radioactive substances) for the purpose of radiation detection.
Some medical professionals are of the impression that PET scans are the most effective method through which to definitively verify a case of mesothelioma. While they believe that standard imaging techniques like x-rays and MRIs should continue to play a role in diagnosing the disease, it is felt that positron emission tomography is becoming an increasingly valuable tool in the staging and typing of the latent asbestos cancer.
Diagnostic Surgery – Biopsy
To provide a mesothelioma diagnosis, a biopsy is needed. This biopsy then undergoes what is called diagnostic histopathology. Histopathology is a technique where the cells from the tumor are viewed under a high-powered microscope, or electron microscopy. Electron microscopy is considered the gold standard for evaluating tumor material from a biopsy. It is a highly advanced microscope that allows viewing of the tiniest elements of cell tissue.
For mesothelioma diagnosis, a pathologist (a doctor who specializes in disease detection) places the tumor cells in the electron microscope and then views the structure of the individual cells. The mesothelioma cells have a specific shape and pattern, and this allows them to be identified by a very keen pathologist. But mesothelioma cells also look similar to other types of cancer cells, such as adenocarcinoma cells, and this can make the pathologist’s job very difficult. Even with the electron microscope, the different types of mesothelioma cells can be hard to recognize. The three types of cells are epithelioid mesothelioma cancer cells, which are tubular in shape, sarcomatoid mesothelioma cancer cells, which are oval and irregularly shaped, and biphasic mesothelioma cancer cells, which are a combination of shapes. These cells can be confused with other types of cancer cells.
New Methods For Mesothelioma Detection
Due to this diagnostic confusion, much research is underway to find new methods for diagnosis. One method is to evaluate the types of compounds generated by the mesothelioma cancer cells. This is called histochemistry. Histochemical reactions have long been used to distinguish between mesothelial and other types of tumor cells. For example, mesothelial cells are known to produce specific types of carbohydrate compounds. Unfortunately, other types of cells in the body also produce these compounds.
Immunochemistry is also being used to detect mesothelioma. This area of study evaluates the presence of antibodies in the body. Certain types of antibodies are known to be associated with certain types of cancer. But mesothelial cells have no specific types of antibodies that can provide a “positive” marker. Consequently, immunochemistry allows the doctor to “eliminate” the other cancers, but does not indicate the presence of mesothelioma. These techniques offer insight into the disease and may help eliminate other diseases, but none can directly detect mesothelioma.
New Blood Tests for Mesothelioma Detection
SMR Protein: Recently, because of the difficulty in diagnosing malignant mesothelioma, research has concentrated on finding new ways to detect the presence of the disease. Researchers in Australia have found that a certain protein, called SMR or Soluble Mesothelin Related protein, is elevated in patients with mesothelioma. These researchers have suggested that a test for the presence of SMR in the blood could represent a useful marker for the diagnosis and disease progression. They feel that such a diagnosis tool could lead to earlier detection, and thus more effective treatment.
One of the most striking findings of their research was that several asbestos-exposed persons who tested positive for SMR were diagnosed with mesothelioma within three years. They suggested that evaluation of SMR may help to identify persons at risk for this deadly disease. Also, they found that SMR levels increase as mesothelioma progresses, suggesting that SMR evaluation could be used to track the progression of the disease and the effectiveness of treatment
Osteopontin Glycoprotein: In an effort to produce the first early-detection test to screen for malignant mesothelioma, researchers at Wayne State University have been studying the possible link between mesothelioma development and levels of a glycoprotein called osteopontin. Early clinical study findings of 190 patients have demonstrated a link between high levels of osteopontin and the development of malignant pleural mesothelioma.
Although the results are being viewed as preliminary, there is a great deal of excitement surrounding the potential of a blood test capable of screening for mesothelioma in its earliest stages. While there is no known cure for malignant mesothelioma, research is ongoing and certain successes have already been realized in terms of extending survival time beyond the one to two year post-diagnosis average. It is hoped that if mesothelioma specialists have more time through which to conduct treatment on a lesser developed form of the asbestos cancer, the greater a patient’s chance at potential survival.
Despite the fact that the preliminary results of the osteopontin blood test clinical trial have been met with some controversy, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) continues to sponsor additional study.
Tell Your Doctor About Asbestos Exposure
If you or a loved one has been exposed to asbestos, even if it was in the distant past, it is very important that you inform your doctor. One reason why mesothelioma is such a deadly disease is that it is detected late in the disease process. If your doctor knows of the exposure, he or she may be more aware of your symptoms or other health issues that could be used for early detection.

Primary and Secondary Lung Cancer

Cancer is a disease related to the uncontrolled growth of tissue, leading to the accumulation of mass (called a tumor or lesion.) Normal cells in the body divide and grow in an orderly controlled manner. When cells grow uncontrollably and this growth invades other tissues or organs, the growths are called malignant or cancerous. When a mass of tissue, or tumor, is benign, it is relatively stable and does not invade other tissues.

Cells from malignant tumors can break away and travel to other parts of the body, usually through the bloodstream, but also through the lymph system. When these cells find new host organs, these cells can grow into tumors in the new tissue. This spreading process is called metastasis and when a cancer has reached an advanced stage to where the malignant cells are attacking other organs, it is said that the cancer tumors have metastasized. The tumors in new organs are always made up of cells similar to those of the original tumor.
Benign tumors do not metastasize. They can often times be removed through surgery and not re-occur.
Lung Cancer
Lung cancer occurs when lung tissue develops cancerous growths. Primary lung cancer is cancer that originates in the lung tissue. Secondary lung cancer is cancer that spreads, or metastasizes, from other organs.
Primary Lung Cancer
There are several different types of primary lung cancer. These are divided into two main groups:
Small Cell Lung Cancer
Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

Pleural mesothelioma is often thought of as a third type of primary lung cancer. However, it is not a lung cancer. Mesothelioma does not develop in the lungs, but in the serous membranes surrounding the lungs. As such, it does not fall into the typical categories of lung cancer. Mesothelioma can also occur in other tissues, in the lining of the abdomen, call peritoneal mesothelioma, and in the lining of the heart, pericardial mesothelioma.
Small Cell Lung Cancer
Small Cell Lung Cancer comprises approximately 20% of the primary types of lung cancer. It is called small cell cancer because the tumor cells are very small, with the cells containing almost exclusively the cell nucleus and nothing more. This type of cancer is also referred to as “oat cell” cancer. Chemotherapy is often suggested for this cancer in the early stages because of the rapid way it which it spreads. Surgery is not a good option to stop the spread early on. This type of cancer is most closely linked to smoking; non smokers rarely have it.
Non-Small Cell Cancer
Non-small cell cancer falls into these categories:
Squamous cell carcinoma
Adenocarcinoma
Large cell carcinoma
Adenosquamous cell carcinoma
Undifferentiated carcinoma
Each category of non-small cell cancer are physiologically similar and they respond to treatment differently than to small cell lung cancer.
Squamous cell carcinoma is a common type of primary lung cancer. This type of cancer is also linked to smoking and it develops from the cells than line the airways in the lungs. Squamous cells are thin, flat cells that look like fish scales. Commonly the tumor growths are located in the center of the lungs near the large airways (bronchi). It is also referred to as epidermoid carcinoma. It comprises approximately 30 to 35% of the non-small cell cancer in the US, affecting men and the elderly most frequently.
Adenocarcinoma, like squamous cell carcinoma, develops from tissues in the lung airways. But, it develops from the glandular secretory tissues. (tissues that produce mucus). It is often found in the outer airway passages, not the main bronchi, like the squamous cell variety. The incidence of this cancer is increasing. It comprises about 40% of the non-small cell lung cancer in the US and is the most common lung cancer among women.
Large cell lung cancer is named after its appearance. The cells look large and unnatural under the microscope. These types of cells grow quite quickly.
Adenosquamous carcinoma are cells that appear flat under the microscope, like the squamous cells, but derive from the glandular secretory cells, like the adenocarcinoma.
Undifferentiated carcinoma includes cancer cells that cannot be identified as one of the other groups. The cells appear abnormal under the microscope and multiply uncontrollably.
Secondary Lung Cancer
Secondary lung cancer is cancer that has spread to the lungs from other organs. Many different types of cancer spread to the lungs, because of its very high blood supply. These include breast cancer and colon cancer.
The type of cancer is very important when it comes to treatment. The different types of cancer cells respond differently to different types of chemotherapy and other therapies. When cancer cells spread from other organs to the lungs, then the lungs have to be treated for the other type of cancer, not lung cancer. This is an important distinction. For example, breast cancer that spreads to the lungs, has to be treated for breast cancer, not lung cancer.

Mesothelioma: description, diagnosis and treatment forecast

“The main cause of cancer is the ignorance. Applied knowledge of nutrition may help to eliminate or reduce the risk factors and the interruption of growth throughout the event.” Uzo-Onukwugha, MD

The Mesothelioma is a tumor cells, the flat surface of the lungs, the pipes adjacent wind and chest cavity. The mesothelioma is an acronym for mésothélium (flat or in cellophane cover) and grandmother (the Latin name of the growth or tumor). It is a rare type of tumors of the lungs and usually only in connection with professional risks. It is a disorder that is a multi-disciplinary approach and the institutions: the doctors, the experts and preventive medicine, surgeons, safety, accidents at work, lawyers, occupational therapists and the unions.

Risk factors and the development of tumors:

Long term, the inhalation of asbestos fibers is subject to certain occupations, such as shipbuilding, insulation, construction and demolition waste. The worst offenders are blue and white asbestos. The cigarette, the risk doubled. The disease is subtle and can take several years or even decades for the manufacture of symptoms. At the beginning of the disease, can no symptoms. A worker, the building may not recognize the symptoms of time after retirement. Onset of symptoms, incentives for the victims entitled to medical assistance. The signs and symptoms may differ from shortness of breath, chest pain, fibrosis, pleural effusion, kalzifizierten plaques and lung cancer. The cancer can eat, lungs, the wind out of the pipes, coasts and the adjacent muscles.

Types mesothelioma: The growth could fibrosed and localized, or it may be disseminated malignant tissue and the adjacent output.

Mesothelioma fibre structure:

Shows such as chest discomfort, and all sorts of problems of the respiratory tract. As for the tumors pleurales affected, the pain may be in the hands, wrists, ankles and knees. Examination of the hand, it can be finger clubbing.

Lung X-ray is important in the clinical diagnosis and localized may turn out that the massive growth of the soft tissues. It could be on the air with a Erguß of fluid in the lung cavity disease.

The prognosis of a surgical resection of this kind is good, even with the proliferation of signs. However, in some real malignant tumor.

Malignant mesothelioma:

The symptoms of malignant mesothelioma appear much later and appear to 55. The symptoms are more diffuse and grow in more than twenty years after the asbestos exposure. The smoke of a cigarette has a tendency to aggravate the symptoms, such as shortness of breath and chest pain.

X-ray lung tissues can be complications, such as the tendency of tissue pleural effusion (pleural effusion), pleural effusion, collapse of the lung, fibrosis, the basal, pulmonary hypertension and lupus erythematosis. Other diseases, autoimmune diseases and cancer of the bronchi can develop. Expectorations test is not contributory pleural mesothelioma and open biopsy may be necessary, characterize the nature of the tumor before treatment. In this phase, the surgery is desperate. Solutions, radiotherapy or chemotherapy may be attempted, but the prognosis is hopeless.

– Prevention better than cure:

The best treatment of Mesothelioms measures for the prevention and advice for the health professions in danger. It is particularly a mask to find alternatives to asbestos and smoking. New jobs could be necessary.

Complimentary treatment:

Green super foods such as Spirulina, Chlorella, Barley in the grass, herbs wheat, kamut Green, alfalfa and helps the body to raise stress of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Green foods are also known for promoting immunity and the assault of free radicals to neutralize toxins released by the cancer cells, and to improve the quality of life of patients overall. Tools such as multi-vitamins, minerals, aloe vera and essential fatty acids can be added to the greens as adjuvant treatment.

Mesothelioma treatment - surgery

The surgery is a major step in the confirmation, and knowing the type of cancer. It can be used in patients with the combination of radiation and chemotherapy used before and after surgery.

Pleurectomy:
The most common surgery for the treatment of Mesothelioma pleurectomy, in which doctors open the chest of the patient and remove excess liquid or a tumor from the wall of the lung (pleura). Although this method to control the accumulation of fluid and reduces the pain, it’s not a cure. However, if the tumor is in its original form and does not have much further, pleurectomy can increase the survival rate of patients when used with chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Moreover, a pleurectomy can in patients less than the approval of the conditions for the health and the death rate is lower than the extrapleuralen lung resection.

Extrapleural Pneumonectomy (EPP):
Extrapleural lung resection (EPP) is a serious and invasive form of surgery, the patients on Mesothelioma. In this treatment is a part of the lung, pleura (the wall of the lung tissue), pericardium (lining of the heart) and the mid-aperture, so that the tumor cells are removed. He takes the progress of mesothelioma, which the patient to breathe without a problem. It is normally associated with patients who are in the early stages of the disease, and when the tumor in the chest cavity. EPP is recommended for patients with a good heart and lung conditions, so that the severity of post-operative term. Although the operation in combination with chemotherapy and radiotherapy promising results, there is no guaranteed cure. The studies have shown that patients with therapies extrapleuralen lung resection, and have an average life span of 35 months after surgery, compared to only 9 months pleurectomy. But some doctors question of surgery, to the high risks arising from the internal bleeding, blood clotting, inflammation of the lungs, the accumulation of pus, shortness of breath and even death. So many surgeons recommend that the idea pleurectomy place of the technical complexity of the EPP.

Thoracentèse:
A small surgery is often performed on patients who can not be expanded or EPP pleurectomy, thoracentèse. In thoracentèse, thoracic surgeon inserts a needle into the chest of the patient to remove the excess fluid accumulated in the wall of the lung (pleura). This method is still not the cancer cure, but the symptoms to alleviate painful mesothelioma. In some cases, talc or other officials with a patient in the vaults of the scar in the chest wall and to help them breathe properly, without the tumor to increase to a certain degree.

Paracentèse:
Paracentèse is a similar method, with a needle to the liquid, but the abdominal section of the body. It follows the same procedure for the recovery of the liquid mucosa of the stomach and other organs abdominal muscle training. Patients with peritoneal mesothelioma paracentesis are responsible for the surgery.