http://www.rsc.org/chemistryworld/News/2008/September/10090802.asp
“Failed Anxiety Drug could Treat Cancer”
Scientists believe that they may have cracked a treatment that can kill cancer cells. The drug attacks molecules in the cell rather than the proteins. Siramesine has shown to be an effective drug but in 2002 they stopped using it because it was ineffective. Yet it has been shown to be effective on animal models. Recently in Finland, Denmark, and the UK it has been shown that the messenger in the cell involved cell proliferation. When starting the experiment at first the scientists said it was purely out of curiosity but as they looked closer they realized that what they had done could be very big. It creates a very strong hydrogen bond and the siramesine doesn’t let the cells do their job therefore stopping the cancer. A phosphatidic acid is formed which has been known to signaling pathway that promotes cell survival. This could be the cancer drug breakthrough scientists believe, but it is a very early stage and a lot has to be accomplished to know for sure it actually can cure cancer.
This article was very interesting. I learned that finally there could be a cure for cancer. If this experiment ends up working out, this could save so many lives every year. Even though it is an early stage in the testing, it is good to know that people are working on a cure that could potentially be a lifesaver.
This article even though very well written, it some what may have produced what can potentially be false hope. If these scientists end up failing with these testing, they will have let many people down. The scientists maybe should have waited to release this information until they were more sure on whether this drug could cure cancer.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
1)The article in general was short, sweet, and to the point giving exactly what was needed without any "blah blah blah"
2)the review did not use complicated or sophisticated language and made its point clear.
3)The article shows insight and understanding in the ways the article may give false hopes.
1) It could have been stated why Siramesine was dubbed ineffective.
2) some terms were used that many readers may not remember such as "proliferation" that could have been explained to make the passage easier to understand.
1) Like Noble, I too am surprised that such astounding methods of curing cancer are being made, and even more surprised by the fact that the improvements are accomplished are made with something that has been deemed an initial failure.
* 3 aspects of the review that were particularly well presented;
1) The article was well presented without vague information.
2) Informations were straightforward
3) The article was short and sweet.
* 2 suggestions on how the review could have been made even better;
Explain why Siramesine was
ineffective as Kubba said.
* 1 were you impressed by/ or learn from reading the article and its review.
Reading this article made me feel relieved that people are actually working on a cure for cancer.
1. Three ways in which the article was well presented
A. Noble's article is to be commended as being extremely approachable - he made a highly technical topic quite understandable.
B. Noble's analysis of the topic was very concise - it is important to note (as Noble did) that the drug is in the early stages of testing.
C. Noble's point regarding the potential for the drug to fail was very well taken - I think it is especially important to remember that many drugs purport to be miracle cures, only to be exposed as fraudulent or having serious side-effects.
2. Two things which could be improved:
A. I would suggest that in future summaries, Noble be sure to explain such terms as siramesine - it would be interesting to hear why this is important.
B. I think it would be interesting if Noble could have included more information on the way in which the scientists came to this accidental discovery.
3. One thing which impressed me:
A. I was impressed by the potential ramifications of this drug - if successful, it could be one of the most important discoveries of the century. I applaud Noble on his choice of article.
Post a Comment