Understanding Cancer: Current Scientific Research on Causes, Treatments, and Prevention

Understanding Cancer: Current Scientific Research on Causes, Treatments, and Prevention

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Our mission is to educate you and provide you with the most current research on the prevention and treatment of cancer so that you can make the most informed choice possible and ensure that you are doing all you can to have a life that is cancer free.

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In this presentation we’ll cover:

• How cancer develops and the role of genes and stem cells in its development.

• Current treatments, their effectiveness and limitations.

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• Diagnostic and imaging options that have been proven to enhance treatment effectiveness.

• The benefits and misconceptions of clinical trials.

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The importance of using nutraceuticals as part of your cancer treatment and prevention protocol.

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This presentation consists of two key sections:

1. Cancer 101 - Understanding Current

Issues In Cancer

&

2. Ensuring That You Are Making Informed

Choices

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Cancer 101

It is now widely accepted that all cancers

are caused by adult stem cells (or cells with

stem-cell like properties).

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What is an adult stem cell?

• The progenitor (originator) of a group of cells of a specific type

• Occur in roughly 1 out of 6 million body cells.

• Used to repair and replace body cells.

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• Exist in regions referred to as stem cell niches, where they remain in a dormant state (quiescence) until activated.

• Each type of tissue contains it’s own stem cell niche.

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• All stem cells have unique features that allow them to avoid destruction during treatment.

• However, it is their ability to exist in a dormant state (quiescence) until activated, that is currently inhibiting standard treatments.

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The 2 stages of stem cell activation

There are two key stages of stem cell

activation:

1. Proliferation.

2. Differentiation.

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In The Proliferation Stage:

The stem cell makes multiple copies of itself.

In The Differentiation Stage:

The multiple copies are converted into the

required cell type and given a Hayflick

number.

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• The Hayflick number is the number of times a normal cell will divide before it stops and dies.

• The important point here is that once a cell has differentiated, it has a finite lifespan.

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Stem cell life cycleProgenitor cell(proliferation)

Mature cell(differentiation)

Stem cell(dormant)

Self renewal

(Activation)

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Stem cell life cycle

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There are two imports points here:

1. A stem cell makes an exact copy of itself, which remains dormant in the stem cell niche.

2. A stem cell also produces a large amount of progenitor cells, which then differentiate into the required type of cells.

Stem cells and cancer

The problem with stem cells is that sometimes, due to mutations, a stem cell is not provided with the cues for differentiation and it gets stuck in a never ending cycle of proliferation, making many copies of itself.

This is what we call cancer.

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Genes and cancer

There are two key types of genes involved

in cancer:

1. Oncogenes.

2. Tumor suppressors.

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Genes and cancer

Oncogenes (tumor causing genes):

1.Cause proliferation.

2. Are turned on (expressed) or over-expressed

in cancers.

3. Are mutated in such a way that causes them

to stay on. www.ctoam.com

Genes and cancer

Tumor suppressors (cancer preventing genes):

1. Initiate differentiation.

2. Are inhibited or under-expressed in cancers.

3. There are common mutations and deletions of

tumor suppressors that occur in specific forms

of cancer.www.ctoam.com

Normal stem cell life cycleProgenitor cell(proliferation)


Stem cell(dormant)

Self renewal

(Activation) (Oncogenes) (Tumor supressor genes)

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Cancer stem cell life cycle

(Oncogenes) (Tumor suppressor genes)

Self renewal

(Activation)

Stem cell(dormant)

Progenitor cell(proliferation)


Tumor cellswww.ctoam.com

Why is this important?

There are hundreds of documented oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes in your body.

Only four of these genes need to be altered or mutated for cancer to develop.

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Why is this important?

Therefore, there are many 1000’s of possible combinations of gene alterations that can lead to cancer in each individual case. It is not the same for every person.

This is why success rates for treatment can vary so greatly from one person to another.

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Development of cancer

Now let’s explore how cancer develops once the unregulated proliferation of stem cells has begun.

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Metastasis

When a cancer cell is stuck in proliferation

and hasn’t differentiated, it can live almost

anywhere in the body (metastasize)

But, how is it that cancer cells travel throughout

the body?

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Angiogenesis and metastasis

Cancer cells are constantly growing and therefore, need to consume a lot of resources. In other words, they require their own blood supply.

Angiogenesis is a process that cancers use to recruit their own blood vessels in order to enable their continued growth.

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Angiogenesis and metastasis

The process of angiogenesis is controlled by oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes.

Oncogenes are responsible for the development of angiogenesis while tumor suppressor genes inhibit it.

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Epithelial To Mesenchymal Transition (EMT)

Epithelial cancer stem cells interact with a type of cell derived from bone marrow called mesenchymal stem cells in a process called epithelial to mesenchymal transition.

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In the EMT process, cancer stem cells send out signals that attract the mesenchymal stem cells from the bone marrow into the tumor where these cells interact and stimulate the growth of cancer stem cells.

Also provides the primary tumor cells (epithelial) to metastasize to bone.

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The process of EMT is controlled by oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes.

Oncogenes are responsible for the development of EMT while tumor suppressor genes inhibit it.

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Summary

• Stem cells remain dormant until activated.

• Cancer is a disease of the stem cells caused by reduced differentiation and increased proliferation.

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Summary

• The recruitment of blood vessels (angiogenesis) allows the tumor to grow and to metastasize.

• EMT allows the primary tumor cells to metastasize to bone.

• Proliferation, differentiation, angiogenesis and EMT are all controlled by genes.

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The standardized approach to cancer treatment

utilizes the following three techniques:

1. Surgery: Removes diseased tissues.

2. Radiation: Creates DNA mutations in rapidly dividing cells.

3. Chemotherapy: Chemical interference of rapidly dividing cells.

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Standard treatment methods

Limitations of surgery

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Surgery is localized:

• Limited to treatment of localized disease.

• Potential to miss stem cells, cells that are in pre-cancerous stages, or cells that have already metastasized.

Limitations of radiation

Radiation is localized:

• Non-selective, affects all rapidly dividing cells and is very toxic.

• Only affects active cells during course of treatment (not dormant cancer causing stem cells).

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Limitations of radiation

Radiation is localized:

• Angiogenesis (cancer cell recruitment of blood vessels) occurs directly after treatment.

• Radiation can create new DNA mutations that may lead to new cancers.

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Limitations of chemotherapyChemotherapy (generalized):

• Non-selective, affects all rapidly dividing cells and is very toxic.

• Only affects active cells during course of treatment (not dormant cancer causing stem cells).

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Limitations of chemotherapy

Chemotherapy (generalized):

• Angiogenesis occurs directly after treatment.

• Chemotherapy can create new DNA mutations that may lead to new cancers.

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Radiation and chemotherapy

The main difference between radiation and chemotherapy is that radiation is used locally and limited to specific regions of the body, while chemotherapy affects all of the cells in the body.

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Additional concerns: Surgery & Radiation

In order for surgery and radiation to be effective, the following concerns need to be addressed:

• Doctors need to target the stem cell niche as well as the malignant tissue (tumor).

• Doctors need to ensure they have accurate imaging prior to surgery and treatment to differentiate between normal and tumor tissues.

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Making informed choices: Imaging

PET/CT

• Combines CT imaging with positron emission tomography.

• Shows biological activity within organs and detects cancer in the earliest stages.

• Uses a cancer-specific glucose solution and a radioactive tracer agent that lights up cancerous hot spots.

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Imaging: PET-CT

According to the BC Cancer Agency;

In 87 % of cases in which a patient has had a PET-CT scan, the results of the test lead to changes in the initial decisions made by oncologists for planned cancer treatment.

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Imaging: PET-CT

In other words, without a PET-CT scan, current detection methods are only accurate 13% of the time!

PET-CT not only ensures proper targeting of the tumor during surgery and radiation treatments, it helps avoid over-treatment or under-treatment.

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Imaging: Normal CT scan

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CT Alone PET/CT

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Additional concerns: Chemotherapy

Issues:

• In order for chemotherapy to be effective, we need to accurately determine the dosage and combination of drugs that provides maximal benefits with minimal side effects.

• Need to affect stem cell niche as well as malignant tissue.

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Making informed choices: Diagnostics

Chemotherapy Sensitivity Tests:

• Performed on a patient’s tumor sample to identify personalized dose and drug combinations (optimized chemotherapy).

• Allows for lower doses, less side effects, and faster recovery times

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Clinical trials:

• Clinical trials represent leading-edge medical science. However, less than 5% of adults diagnosed with cancer each year are enrolled in clinical trails.

• While there are a number of various treatment approaches being offered through clinical trials, 8 out of 10 patients are not aware that this is a viable option for them.

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Benefits of clinical trials

• In order to be offered to the human population, each clinical trial must show that the approach being tested is superior to standard treatment.

• Patients are also provided with superior imaging and diagnostics not typically offered in public medical facilities.

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• They do not replace standard treatment, they are a form of adjunct therapy, and as such are offered as an additional treatment to standard treatment.

• In most clinical trials the standard treatment is typically used in place of the placebo (control group).


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• Clinical trials are typically FREE.

• But best of all, their success depends

on your survival!


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Nutraceuticals

A nutraceutical is a naturally occurring component of a food group that has scientifically proven cancer fighting activity.

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Nutraceuticals

Nutraceuticals can be used to regulate cancer-specific pathways and genes during and between treatment regimes.

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Nutraceuticals

Nutraceuticals have the ability to continually regulate cancer causing stem cells, unlike toxic drug based approaches.

Nutraceuticals can also enhance cancer cell sensitivity to standard chemotherapy and radiation therapy, improving treatment outcomes.

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Nutraceuticals

Nutraceuticals are inexpensive and non-toxic.

Nutraceutical combinations can be used to create a personalized diet based on the unique genetic signature of your cancer.

You can start today.

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Nutraceutical based gene targeting: PTEN

PTEN is a tumour suppressor gene that normally initiates stem cell differentiation.

PTEN is down-regulated (diminished) or mutated in a variety of cancers.

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Subtle variations in PTEN levels have been proven to determine cancer susceptibility.

In other words, the amount of PTEN in a cell can determine susceptibility to certain cancers.

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100% -

75% -

50% -

25% -

0% -

PTEN

Level

- This level found in 40% of Breast cancers



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Normal

PTEN LEVEL CANCER RISK


Even a small decrease in PTEN levels can create a greater chance of cancer.

More importantly, even a small increase in PTEN levels can reduce your susceptibility to certain cancers!

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There are a variety of easily accessible Nutraceuticals that can reactivate PTEN:

• Sulforaphane (broccoli).

• Genestein (soy).

• Resveratrol (red wine).

• EGCG (green tea).

• Curcumin (tumeric).

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One of the largest hurdles in the therapeutic

use of nutraceuticals is their low bioavailability.

The bioavailability of a nutraceutical refers to

its ability to remain in the body at a

concentration that has cancer fighting activity.

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Nutraceutical based gene targeting: Concerns

Bioavailability Example: Curcumin Absorbance

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A component of pepper named piperine greatly increases the oral bioavailability of curcumin.

Piperine increases the absorbance of curcumin by 2000 %.

Nutraceutical: Issues

Factors affecting the outcome of nutraceutical

clinical trials:

• Variations in the amount of the nutraceutical used in the different clinical trials.

• The amount and form of the nutraceutical differs between the strain and type of plant that it was obtained from.

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EGCG of Various Green TeasEGCG CONTENT (%) TYPE OF GREEN TEA

6% -

5% -

4% -

3% -

2% -

1% -

Sencha Uchiyama

Gyokuro #1

Sencha #1

Sencha #2, Gyokuro #2

Pilo Chun Emperor, Gyokuro #3, Gyokuro #4

Matcha

Yunnan, Yuzan, Paimutan

Dong Ding

Meng Ding, Lung Chin

Pou Chong, Tikuan Yin

Nutraceuticals: Issues

• Longer steeping times increase amount of EGCG released.

• Drinking 1 cup of Sencha-Uchiyama steeped for 10 mins results in an equivalent amount of EGCG (~1.35mg) as drinking 60 cups of Pou Chong or Tikuan Yin green tea steeped for 2 mins!

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Further Reading

For more information on the issues covered in

this presentation, please visit our web site:

• Educational Articles

• New Advanced Treatments

http://www.ctoam.com/educational-articles-on-cancer/

http://www.ctoam.com/cancer-blog-categories/

How we can help you

Remember, when you hire CTOAM, you are hiring your own personal team of experienced cancer researchers to advocate for you and assist you in your treatment and recovery.

We will ensure you are maximizing the potential in every aspect of your treatment.

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Thank you

Please visit us at:

URL: www.CTOAM.com

E-mail: [email protected]

Phone: (778) 999-5463

FAX: (866) 264-1619

Understanding Cancer: Current Scientific Research on Causes, Treatments, and Prevention

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