Cancer is one of the most frustrating and harmful diseases in existence. For our whole existence, humanity has struggled with the cancer endemic. Thankfully, there are many new and amazing discoveries being made that are progressing the way we successfully treat cancer, and help patients reclaim their lives. The more informed you are, the more you can spread the word to those whose lives have been irreversibly affected by cancer. By educating yourself, you can inspire hope!
Cancers Origins in the Human Body
Cells are the basic building blocks of the human body. When the body requires new cells, existing cells grow and divide to produce them. Cells that are diseased or elderly frequently pass away, and then newer cells are born to replace the old, dysfunctional ones. When this process is hampered by genetic alterations, cancer can occur, and greatly threaten the health of the affected individual.
Uncontrolled cell growth can create a butterfly effect that will spread throughout the body like wildfire. Tumor-like growths can be produced by these cells, and these aberrations can be either benign or malignant. Because a malignant tumor is malignant, it can develop and metastasize to other areas of the body. On the other hand, if a tumor is benign, it might enlarge but not spread. Some cancers do not produce tumors at all – including myeloma, a variety of lymphomas, and leukemias.
Finding new ways to treat cancer takes a ton of research, and this research often takes decades to be fruitful. From research into Chinese Hamster ovary cells (CHO Cells) to lab-born antibody miracles, there are a lot of interesting new cancer treatments to learn about (and we will discuss them in more detail later in this article).
The State of Cancer Research in the United States
Fewer people are dying from cancer in the United States than ever before. While research has a long way to go before we live in a truly cancer-free society, the groundwork is being done to achieve this amazing dream. Many cancer research operations are now focusing on groundbreaking technologies that make us rethink the way we approach cancer, and its treatment. By getting down to the cellular level, and using lab-grown tools and research to fight cancer, we are getting closer to “cracking the code.”
4 Incredible New Discoveries that Affect Cancer Treatments
The most important thing to know about modern-day cancer research and treatments is that they are still being experimented with and perfected. Extensive research and repeated test results are crucial safeguards that ensure that new cancer treatment possibilities are both safe and effective. That being said, four current treatments are standing out recently as being particularly promising and exciting.
1. Recombinant Antibodies
Recombinant antibodies are made in a lab without the need for any hybridomas or animal immunizations. This method of treatment technology is progressing faster than any other treatment that we will be covering. When using these man-made antibodies to target cancer cells in a patient, a wide variety of therapeutic options become available.
2. CHO (Chinese Hamster Ovary) Cells
The possibilities associated with the biotherapeutic uses of CHO cells, and the antibodies they help to create, are mind-blowing. They are also incredibly easy to produce in large amounts, which makes them promising for larger market use once more research and refinement around the technology is completed. Even in the current state of CHO cell research, the product is nearly guaranteed to become a widespread treatment option for patients suffering from severe cases of cancer.
3. Bone Marrow Transplants
Stem cell and bone marrow transplants are frequently used to treat some types of cancer, especially those that do not form tumors (such as myeloma, lymphoma, and leukemia. These treatments are combined with high doses of radiotherapy and chemotherapy to help patients recover from their cancer.
4. Monoclonal Antibodies
Similar to recombinant antibodies, monoclonal antibodies are man-made and created in a lab. Although, they both require animal immunizations, and take longer to produce. That being said, research and technology surrounding monoclonal antibodies are much further along and are used more widely in the current day. Targeting cancer cells, training human immune systems, and other amazing applications are possible with monoclonal antibodies.
Here’s to a Cancer-Free Future
As the scientific community does more and more research into the benefits of the amazing four treatments we’ve discussed above, we get that much closer to living in a cancer-free future. While some may see this possibility as a pipe dream, that dream is coming closer and closer to being a reality for all of humankind.
