Sunday, March 9, 2014

Brain Cancer & Focusing On The Immune System

By Robert Sutter


Outside of cancer studies, the immune system is needed for a number of different functions. For one, it is able to help the body when confronted with diseases as typical as the flu and it can be boosted through certain means. One can make the argument that it can be that much stronger with the ideal diet or the implementation of vitamin C. However, it seems like the immune system has been given much more focus lately and the idea to focus to has got to be brain cancer.

According to a report on EurekAlert, a group of researchers at the University of Calgary's Hotchkiss Brain Institute made a discovery that could play into the development of brain cancer studies. It was found that there were certain specialized immune cells in tumors that have been compromised. One can only imagine that an item to reactivate such cells could be put to use. It sounds like a positive prospect and it is one that should have the attention of organizations such as Voices against Brain Cancer as well.

This type of cancer has been deemed as one of the serious conditions on the body and it is not hard to see why. Treatment options may not be able to help everyone across the board, meaning that long-term positives are not going to be as consistent. One of the factors behind this has got to be cancer cells, which can regenerate if they are not extracted during surgical or therapeutic methods. Glioblastoma is perhaps the greatest example to consider, as it oftentimes viewed as the most serious form of cancer within the brain.

For those who do not know, the brains have certain cells that are named microglia, which work in order to help against cases of infection, for example. Think of these as almost like the brain's own immune system and you will have a general idea of just how strong it is. It's clear that these cells have been deactivated and efforts are needed in order to help them come back into activity. This is where a drug by the name of amphotericin B comes into play.

The drug saw positive results, according to the article, as the immune cells in the body have been reactivated. During the animal model utilized, brain tumor growth saw a significant decrease, which is a positive point to make note of. It also goes to show just how vital certain cells are and why it is important for them to be individualized and honed in on. In the right doses, ampB can be an effective drug in terms of activating microglia and bringing down tumor progression in the long term.




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