Tumor cells live for themselves, it is - selfish-cells

Interview with biologist Dr. Doping about the life cycle of cells, oncogenesis and chemotherapy.

- What is the difference between "normal" cells in their body and work against tumor?

- The paradox lies in the fact that the tumor and "normal" cells at the cellular level does not vary. They vary in their relation to the body. The body's cells perform their function, live and die as the body needs. Tumor cells live for themselves, it is - selfish-cells. There is a good saying that the tumor cells - are cells with anti-social behavior. This is the tumor.

The origin of the tumor eventually - it always changes the cell genome, it may be a mutation or other changes, but cancer - a genomic disease. There are hereditary diseases that are transmitted from generation to generation. Human cells initially all the same, but the individual cells can mutate. If this mutation does not affect any critical process, then do not worry and do not happen. Ultimately, perhaps mutate all the cells, because the gene is not eternal, because all around us the cosmic rays, which can damage DNA molecules, mutagens, and so on. D. But the mutation may somehow affect the reproduction of cells or the death. Prednisolon - is used in the complex treatment of cancer.

Cells in the body has its own life cycle - they live and die. The process of death - clearly recorded program, there are special proteins responsible for cell to die at the right time in the right way, so that it is not just disintegrated into pieces and fragmented, then come the macrophages and these pieces of "ate". This is a complex programmable process. If the cell has become a little better or a little worse breed to die, then it changed its properties. It has not yet become a tumor, it is only one mutation. Next among her descendants someone can get even one mutation, and start breeding, selection among cells.

In fact, this selection - selection according to Darwin. That is, are random mutations, and then among the descendants with random mutations are selected by those who are stronger than getting out of the body control. This process, in most cases long. It is very rare that one mutation can lead to something that looked like a tumor in medical terms. Nevertheless, gradually mutating cells, and clones are selected that more and more are getting out of control of the body, becoming more antisocial, and these cells have very much. Tumours not only in humans but also in any animal in the body a lot. Any mole - a tumor. But she has not yet become dangerous for the body, that is, does not become a tumor in terms of harm to the body, from a medical point of view. Yes, it has changed, yes, the body does not need this birthmark, but she already has. It can be benign, furthermore, it can never be dangerous, such as tumors of adipose tissue - lipoma. Human life is simply not enough to accumulate mutations and become a dangerous liposarcoma, so if a lipoma does not prevent the move, does not spoil the appearance, it should not be removed.

But at some point mutations can accumulate so much that the tumor becomes dangerous, and then there is a medical problem: it is not just the modified cells are slightly more. When we talk about the tumors, in most cases, we think it is about this situation. But it is preceded by a long way the selection of clones with altered properties, exit from under the control of the body cells can live for himself, to multiply for himself, and, unfortunately, these cells are capable of killing their behavior body.

Tumors can be caused by a variety of reasons. For example, Burkitt's lymphoma. Very nasty tumor cells that rapidly multiply. Its development is associated with Epstein - Barr virus. This tumor spread mainly in Africa. In Europe, in America among Caucasoid population is exotic. But it has become increasingly important in recent years. This is due to the problem of HIV. This is a very serious disease, which is now learned not to cure, but to restrain. There are medications that must be taken for life, they will hinder the development of the disease, and the patient will live. But this time the tumor may occur. And, as it turned out, most often it is Burkitt's lymphoma.

- How classical chemotherapy works on the body?

- Classical chemotherapy is based on two simple things. Any normal cell in the body is mortal, and often the duration of her life is very small. I like the example of the intestinal epithelium: intestinal epithelial cells in a differentiated state live only 4-5 days, limit them - a week, and then they die. New cells are produced, the old die, there is a continuous flow cells. There are cells which are updated more slowly, for example lung epithelial cells. There are cells that are substantially updated or not updated, as neurons. Nevertheless, the cells know how to die. Tumors - a cell in which the program is shut down properly changing life stages: propagation, differentiation and death. Tumor disable this program. Any chemotherapy, exposure to radiation, heat (now the huge number of different approaches) in most cases the aim - to cause programmed cell death program. Animals generally have several types of programmed cell death is apoptosis, most commonly, in which the cell splits it into pieces and then "intelligently" clean macrophages. It can be said that the task of the doctor - it does not reduce the swelling and induce tumor cells to programmed cell death.

- That is to make cells start to die again?

- Yes, the cell can not be shot, but cause a program that it contains a can. Ominously happens when this program is broken. There is a very well-known protein, p53, one of the most studied proteins. If it does not work, then the cells are very bad thing of the programmed cell death, and such tumors usually are treated worse.

There are times when you need to run not just death, and differentiation. Cage remained at the stage of reproduction: it reproduces, multiplies and does not want to differentiate, to stop breeding. At the same time work and can not reproduce, and this is necessary to push the cell to differentiate. For example, for the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia picked up a very simple medication that causes cells to differentiate. It does not cure the tumor; usually additionally used chemotherapy, which parallel sleeves cells to programmed cell death. Differentiating cells to kill much easier than breeding.

- What are the methods of treatment of oncological diseases of the blood?

Now, when we are talking about hematologic cancers, leukemias, lymphomas, the operating method of the maximum stroke, as if slightly hit, the tumor cells will survive and the tumor will relapse. But such treatment is not only dying tumor cells and normal stem cells, that give blood. As long as there is no selectivity, and we can not hit only the tumor cells, we beat all the stem cells, destroying them, and further proves that we killed and normal bone marrow. The only solution to date - a bone marrow transplant.

- At what stage now possible to diagnose cancer and how, in your opinion, will develop this area?

- Of course, good to diagnose early. We have a history of tumor, tumor progression, it is necessary to know. If we know, then we can understand at what stage to catch the tumor. should catch in step polyps If gastric cancer. Yes, they are not dangerous, it's just outgrowth in the stomach wall, which is perfectly visible in gastro-enteroscopy. Tumors - a phenomenon of the age, will take time to have time to accumulate mutations. If a person after 40 years of doing gastro-enteroscopy doctor sees a polyp, cut it, and then that person will not be stomach cancer. But if you miss this time, the tumor and will require surgery may develop. Especially metastases can occur, and the situation is complicated. Therefore, it is important to diagnose the tumor in time. Of course, if polyps or cancer of the skin, which is visible to the naked eye, easy to diagnose. But if the tumor is deep? For such cases, it developed a huge number of methods. For example, now in the clinic put any response to tumor markers for some tumors, which are very common in Russia.

Tumour - is usually proteins, which antibodies are identified. In large hospitals have a fairly broad panel of tumor markers. If there is a risk that the person will be a certain type of cancer, it is best to be checked periodically.