[/caption]News courtesy-Deccan Chronicle
Despite the advancements in medical science, cancer is claiming more than 50 per cent of the people afflicted by it every year.
Dr Vijay Anand P. Reddy, Senior Oncologist
There’s no doubt that there has been tremendous advancement in medicine and health sciences. Still scientists haven’t been successful in controlling the cancer-causing RB gene or in identifying cancer at zero-level by detecting those who might be prone to cancer at a later stage in life.
Normal cells in a human being is protected by the onco gene, which controls cell division, and helps repair any tissue damage till a new cell replaces the damaged one. This onco cell can get damaged by many exogenous agents such as toxins, chemicals, environment pollution, tobacco, faulty diet and so on. People with internal problems like genetic malfunction, especially those who bear the cancer causing RB gene, are more susceptible to cancer as this particular gene triggers abnormal growth in the normal cell.
There’s still no answer to the question why certain people, despite having no exogenous catalysts, suffer from cancer or are born with the RB gene in them, while others don’t have it. Research is on for the last two decades to find out how to rectify and control the faulty RB gene that makes one cancer-prone. With advanced technology, it is now possible to conduct targeted therapy, a treatment by which only the molecules of cancerous cells are destroyed while normal cells surrounding it are spared. In the next 10 years, cancer research will progress further and it may be possible to identify cancer at zero level and control the RB gene.
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Dr T. Mandapal,
Director, M.N.J. Institute of Oncology
It is still not specifically known what causes mutation in normal genes though the risk factors include exposure to radiation, tobacco use, pollution, obesity and unhealthy diet and lifestyle.
However, certain viruses like Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and Hepatitis B have been known to cause cervical and liver cancer respectively. Some genes and their potential to cause cancer have also been identified like the BARC gene (1 and 2). Extensive research on gene testing is going on to find out ways to control the cancer causing genes but it may take some more years to achieve success.
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Dr S. Chandrasekhar Rao, Prof. of Oncology
We have already conquered cervical cancer. We have found out that cervical cancer is caused by a virus and a vaccine has been developed to prevent the cancer of cervix. But we still do not know much about other cancers. Scientists are studying cancers at their molecular levels. The problem is there are vast numbers of cancers in heterogeneous groups of people.
Much light has been thrown on the molecular aspects of cancers in the last decade and I hope there will be a major relief to cancer patients in the next two decades. Once the mechanism that triggers cancer is scientifically understood, treatment will become easier. We have already made quite a significant progress in the direction of defeating cancers.
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Dr Ch. Mohana Vamsy, Senior Oncologist
In the next 10-15 years we can expect a major breakthrough in cancer treatment. We will know the mechanism and find cures for a majority of cancers, if not all. The major hurdle so far has been our lack of understanding of cancers, how and what makes normal cells grow without control to form tumours, and whether genetic or environmental factors or both are responsible. A lot of research has been going on and there have been quite a number of breakthroughs. It is only a matter of time that good news will be out.
Once we know what causes cancer, treatment will become easier and a cure will be in sight. So far we have advanced a lot in cancer treatment. We now have drugs without side-effects and minimal invasive surgery. The life of a cancer patient is far better now than what it used to be some 10 years ago. And in the coming years, cancer patients will lead even better lives and we can expect a cure to this major health menace.
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