Chemotherapy-resistant cancer stem cell could be 'Achilles' heel' of cancer

ScienceDaily (Sep. 10, 2012) Scientists at Mount Sinai School of Medicine have discovered a subpopulation of cells that display cancer stem cell properties and resistance to chemotherapy, and participate in tumor progression. This breakthrough could lead to the development of new tests for early cancer diagnosis, prognostic tests, and innovative therapeutic strategies, as reported in Cancer Cell.

Resistance to chemotherapy is a frequent and devastating phenomenon that occurs in cancer patients during certain treatments. Unfortunately, tumors that initially respond to chemotherapy eventually become resistant to it, contributing to tumor progression and death. The study reveals that these new cancer "stem" cells, which have not been differentiated into more specific cell types, are capable of multiplying despite being exposed to chemotherapy, while differentiated cells die.

Led by Carlos Cordon-Cardo, MD, PhD, Chair of Pathology, and Josep Domingo-Domenech, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Pathology at Mount Sinai, the research team generated cellular models of drug resistance by treating prostate tumor cell lines with increasing doses of the common chemotherapy drugs, including docetaxel. They identified a cell population expressing markers of embryonic development. In addition, these cells displayed cancer stem cell functions, including the capacity to initiate tumor cell growth. Next, the team evaluated human tissue samples of prostate cancer and found that patients with more aggressive or metastatic tumors had more of these cancer "stem" cells.

"This is the first time these so-called cancer stem cells of prostate have been identified as the basis for drug resistance and tumor progression, indicating that they are cancer's 'Achilles Heel,'" said Dr. Cordon-Cardo. "These findings are the culmination of more than six years of innovative research, which has led to the successful unveiling of cancer characteristics that are critical to understanding how the disease works and progresses."

The study also defines a new therapeutic strategy for patients with prostate cancer, consisting of a combination of standard chemotherapy and two pharmacological agents that inhibit key signaling pathways associated with embryonic development and cell differentiation. Results showed that chemotherapy eliminated differentiated tumor cells, whereas the signaling pathway inhibitors selectively depleted the cancer stem cell population. Some of these inhibitors are already in clinical trials, and some are FDA-approved.

"By targeting these newly identified cancer 'stem' cells, we are attacking the foundation of tumor growth, rather than treating the symptoms of it," said Dr. Domingo-Domenech. "The novel discovery of this cell population could lead to the development of new tests for early cancer diagnosis, prognostic tests, and innovative therapeutic strategies."

Ongoing studies suggest that this new cell type exist in other tumor types such as breast cancer, colon cancer, bladder cancer and lung cancer. Dr. Cordon-Cardo's team is studying these disease areas to determine the presence and impact of these cancer cells.

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Chemotherapy-resistant cancer stem cell could be 'Achilles' heel' of cancer

Hero dog gets stem cell treatment

By Julie S. Alipala Inquirer Mindanao

ZAMBOANGA CITYKabang, the female Aspin dog who lost her upper snout when hit by a motorcycle while saving the lives of two girls, will be staying in Manila for two weeks for a stem cell treatment before further surgery in the United States.

Veterinarian Anton Lim said the stem cell treatment will boost the dogs immunity before she is flown to the US within the month. Kabang was flown to Manila on Sunday morning.

Lim said they were able to raise at least $10,000 from donations to shoulder expenses for Kabangs surgery on a protruding bone on her face. We are halfway there. As I have said, we need around $20,000, he said.

Team Kabang is really grateful for the global effort as we received donations from almost a dozen countries, he added. The Animal Welfare Coalition of the Philippines has also helped provide medicines for Kabang.

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Hero dog gets stem cell treatment

Details revealed in complicated stem-cell case

September 08, 2012 10:01 PM

A Brownsville man admitted to charging a couple more than $8,000 to perform an unapproved stem-cell procedure on their child who had experienced neurological problems after nearly drowning.

Francisco Morales, 52, has pleaded guilty to a conspiracy to introduce misbranded and unapproved drugs into interstate commerce, U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson announced Friday.

Lawrence Stowe, 59, of Illinois, pleaded guilty to the same charges.

These pleas are a victory for the American public, in demonstrating the FDAs commitment to investigating cases of individuals and businesses that prey on the sick and vulnerable with phony medical treatments, said Patrick J. Holland of the Food and Drug Administrations Office of Criminal Investigations.

Alberto Ramon, 50, of Del Rio, and Vincent Dammai, 42, of Mount Pleasant, S.C., are also charged in the case and will go to trial in late November.

Magidson said in a press release that Morales and Stowe both falsely represented that they were licensed to practice medicine and that they each operated medical clinics in Brownsville.

In January 2006, Stowe admitted that he started using Stowe BioTherapy Inc. and The Stowe Foundation to advertise and promote a medical treatment protocol for several neurological diseases that have no cures.

The treatment was called Applied Biologics and consisted of supplements, vaccines, patient specific transfer factors and stem cell therapy. Stowe told patients that the FDA reviewed the treatment and considered it effective for Lou Gehrigs disease, MS and Parkinsons. There are no cures for these diseases.

Stowe and Morales pleaded guilty to introducing an unapproved drug called Immune Factor G-40, and Stowe further admitted that he introduced an unapproved treatment called patient specific transfer factors.

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Details revealed in complicated stem-cell case

Arroyo undergoes 4th stem cell treatment

By Leila B. Salaverria Philippine Daily Inquirer

Former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo: Stem cell treatment

MANILA, PhilippinesLike her predecessor, former President and Pampanga lawmaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has turned to stem cell therapy in an effort to improve her health.

Arroyo said in her official Twitter account that she would have her fourth stem cell intravenous treatment with her alternative medicine doctor on Monday.

Arroyo said her treatment would involve cultured stem cells, and it would be much more modest in price than the one coming from sheep or ones own body.

A close friend and ally of Arroyo, Quezon Representative Danilo Suarez, confirmed that the President has started stem cell therapy, and that she told him that the stem cells she has been using did not come from lamb placenta, and was the less costly form of stem cell treatment.

If you have a lot of health problems, you will try such things, Suarez said on Sunday.

Suarez said he has even filed a resolution to investigate the practice of stem cell treatments in the country, as well as the claims being made about it, considering that it has been gaining popularity.

The public needs to be better informed about it. It might have setbacks that we need to know about, he said.

The therapy involves the use of fresh cells, which are injected into the body to regenerate cells to treat illnesses or reverse aging.

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Arroyo undergoes 4th stem cell treatment

Arroyo to have stem cell therapy

MANILA, Philippines Former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo joins the growing list of public personalities turning to stem cell treatment.

In her official Twitter account, Arroyo said: "This Monday I will have my 4th stem cell intravenous treatment with my alternative medicine doctorIt's cultured stem cell and much more modest in price than the one coming from sheep or one's own body."

Arroyo did not give any more details.

In previous Twitter posts, Arroyo said she has turned to alternative medicine for treatment of complications from her cervical spine surgery,

On Thursday, September 6, Arroyo tweeted: "I just came from my thrice weekly therapy at Veterans. This week I also saw two alternative medicine practitioners as part of my search for a second opinion while initiating my communication with an opinion with a neurovervical spine purist who does repeat surgery daily, as recommended by Dr. Anastacio. "

Arroyo has been in and out of the hospital since she was first operated to address a pinched nerve last year.

A recent medical finding by attending physician Roberto Anastacio indicated that Arroyo risks sudden death for the complications from the dislodging of the titanium implanted during her cervical spine surgery at St. Luke's Medical Center.

Previously, former President Joseph Estrada and Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile admitted undergoing stem cell therapy.

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Arroyo to have stem cell therapy

Stem cell for GMA tomorrow

Manila, Philippines Former President now Pampanga Rep. Gloria M. Arroyo is set to undergo her fourth stem cell intravenous treatment tomorrow.

This Monday, I will have my fourth stem cell intravenous treatment with my alternative medicine doctor, Arroyo, who has been in and out of the hospital in the past two years, said in her Twitter account. Arroyos alternative medicine doctor is Dr. Antonia Park, who owns a wellness center in Tagaytay City. After she was granted bail in July, Arroyo sought Parks help for her medical condition.

Its cultured stem cell and much more modest in price than the one coming from sheep or ones own body, she tweeted without divulging how much the treatment will cost.

Arroyo has started finding a specialist who could treat her problematic spine. She disclosed that she found at least two alternative medicine practitioners for a second opinion, while initiating my communication with an opinion with a neurocervical spine purist who does repeat surgery daily, as recommended by her cardiologist, Dr. Roberto Anastacio of the Makati Medical Center.

She also attends her thrice a week therapy at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City, where she was detained for eight months following the electoral sabotage charges hurled against her by a Pasay City court.

Anastacio earlier said Arroyo should immediately undergo a surgery to address life-threatening blockage in her neck due to a displaced titanium implant. He said the treatment is only available in Austria and New York. (Charissa M. Luci)

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Stem cell for GMA tomorrow

Arroyo to undergo stem cell treatment Monday

Coordinates 13.6500N79.4200N Name Pasay City Official name City of Pasay Native name Lungsod ng Pasay Settlement type Highly-Urbanized City Motto Aim High Pasay! Image seal Ph seal ncr pasay.png Seal size 100px Map caption Map of Metro Manila showing the location of Pasay City. Pushpin map Pushpin label position Subdivision type Country Subdivision name Subdivision type1 Region Subdivision name1 National Capital Region Subdivision type2 Province Subdivision name2 none Subdivision type3 Districts Subdivision name3 Lone District of Pasay City Subdivision type4 Barangays Subdivision name4 201 Leader title Mayor Leader name Antonino G. Calixto (Liberal) Leader title1 Vice Mayor Leader name1 Marlon A. Pesebre (Liberal//PMP) Leader title2 Sangguniang Panlungsod Leader name2 Established title2 Incorporated (town) Established date2 December 2, 1863 Established title3 Incorporated (city) Established date3 June 21, 1947 Unit pref Area total km2 19 Population as of 2007 Population total 403,064 Population density km2 21213 Timezone PST Utc offset +8 Elevation footnotes Postal code type ZIP code Postal code 13001309 Area code 2 Website Official Website of Pasay City Footnotes }}

The City of Pasay (Filipino: Lungsod ng Pasay) is one of the cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila in the Philippines. It is bordered on the north by the country's capital, Manila, to the northeast by Makati City, to the east by Taguig City, and Paraaque City to the south.

Pasay City was one of the original four cities of Metro Manila. Due to its proximity to Manila, it quickly became an urban town during the American Period.

In one version, the name of the municipality came from the wail of a brokenhearted swain. Jose and Paz were in love with each other and were intent on a life together, but Jose's father was a mere tenant of the hacienda of Paz's father. For this reason, their love was forbidden and Jose was ordered to stay away from Paz. Unable to bear her misfortune, Paz died.

At her funeral, the elite came to mourn and pray as Jose watched from a distance. As soon as everyone left, Jose dug a tunnel into the earth to be with Paz. Once joined, he let out a sharp and anguished cry "Paz-ay!" In sorrow and regret, the parents of Paz named their hacienda Paz-ay. In time, the town came to be known simply as Pasay.

Historians have another explanation for the origin of the name of the city. It is said that back in the day, Pasay was thick with pasaw, a plant with an exotic aroma. It was said that a Spanish botanist, Antonio Pineda, frequented a place called Basal in the vicinity of San Rafael to gather pasaw.

The version deemed to be most credible is that Pasay was named after a princess of the Namayan Kingdom, Dayang-dayang Pasay. The Namayan Kingdom was a confederation of barangays that began to peak in 1175 and extended from Manila Bay to Laguna de Bay. Dayang-dayang Pasay inherited the lands now comprising the territories of Culi-culi, Pasay and Baclaran. The royal capital of the kingdom was built in Sapa, known today as Santa Ana.

The natives brought their products to the capital of Namayan. Trading flourished during the 12th to the 14th centuries. Merchants from Japan, China, Moluccas, Java, Borneo, Sumatra, India, Siam, and Cambodia came to trade with the natives.

Pasay's name may also have originated from the Spanish Paso hay meaning there is a pass. This referred to the paths cleared among the grass leading to the southern portions from Manila.

In 1727, the name of the Pasay settlement was changed to Pineda in honor of Don Cornelio Pineda, a Spanish horticulturist who requested for guardias civiles for protection from bandits. The name Pineda, along with Pasay, was used as the name of the place until the early 20th century.

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Arroyo to undergo stem cell treatment Monday

Gloria Arroyo to have stem cell treatment Monday

Former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will undergo stem cell therapy on Monday with an alternative medicine doctor.

Arroyo, in a post on her Twitter account Saturday morning, said Monday's session will be her fourth intravenous treatment.

"This Monday I will have my fourth stem cell intravenous treatment with my alternative medicine doctor," she said.

Also she said, "It's cultured stem cell and much more modest in price than the one coming from sheep or one's own body."

But she did not elaborate on how much the treatment will cost.

Stem cell therapy is type of intervention strategy that introduces new adult stem cells into damaged tissue in order to treat disease or injury.

Earlier this week, Arroyo said she continues to search for alternative solutions to an anatomic problem that prompted her to be rushed to a government hospital last month.

Arroyo said she had seen at least two "alternative medicine practitioners," and has initiated communication with a "neurocervical spine purist."

She said she also had her thrice-weekly therapy at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) in Quezon City Thursday.

Arroyo underwent treatment last August for an anatomic problem that caused her to choke on her food.

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Gloria Arroyo to have stem cell treatment Monday

Fourth stem cell treatment for Arroyo

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Illustration by Jessica Lazaro

MANILA, Philippines - Former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will undergo on Monday, September 10, her fourth stem cell treatment to help correct her spinal condition.

This Monday, I will have my fourth stem cell intravenous treatment with my alternative medicine doctor," Arroyo posted on her Twitter account @gmarroyo on Saturday, September 8.

She did not provide more details.

After the former President was granted bail by a Pasay City Court last July, she contacted alternative medicine doctor Antonia Park, who owns a wellness center in Tagaytay City, and this week Arroyo started searching for another specialist who can correct her spinal condition.

Arroyo still has physical therapy sessions 3 times a week at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center, where the Pampanga Rep. had spent 8 months in hospital arrest over electoral sabotage charges in connection with the 2007 midterm polls.

Facebook status update on Thursday, September 6

Dr. Roberto Anastacio, her physician at the Makati Medical Center, earlier said the treatment for Arroyos condition cannot be found in the Philippines.

However, the former President is prevented from traveling abroad by 3 hold departure orders issued by the courts in relation to electoral sabotage, plunder and graft cases filed against her. - Rappler.com

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Fourth stem cell treatment for Arroyo