WHY GREAT WEALTH CAN SOMETIMES BE GOOD.

Oregon Coast, 2007

Recall my sniveling complaints about having to take the CITI exams, in my last entry?  A faithful reader told me to buck up, pull up my shorts, and get to work.  Well, I am trying.  However, at times it can be hard to read essays on topics with names like these:

            Basic Institutional Review Board (IRB) Regulations and Review Process

Vulnerable Subjects:  Research with Pregnant Women, Fetuses and Neonates

Research and HIPPA Privacy Protections

Conducting Investigator -Initiated Studies According to FDA Regulations and Good Clinical Practice

There are 17 such “Modules” in the course I am attempting, each followed by its own exam.  I must finish them all with a combined grade of 80 or better (current status: 10 down, score 88).  And then there is another entire course to conquer.  But at least the tuition is negligible: free, in fact.

 I foresee a need for strong coffee.

Now, all this cannot be required just to verify that I am qualified to lick envelopes and file things.  I suspect that they want to make darned sure that their volunteers are serious.  Nobody would endure all this misery  unless they were hot to help.  And I am. 

But I really wanted to write about an article in the latest NCI Bulletin.   It seems that the University of Pennsylvania has received a gift of $25 million from the Basser family, in honor of Faith Basser who died of ovarian cancer at age 44.  The money will help fund a new research facility, the Basser Research Center for BRCA, that will concentrate on all aspects of the cancers that are known to be influenced by mutations in the two BRCA genes.  In other words they will pay attention to early detection, prevention, and treatment, as well as performing basic research.  The NCI  article contains information of use to nearly everybody – it turns out that the  BRCA genes influence a wide range of cancers, including several in men.  You should all read it, but I know you won’t, so I will list a web site where – with minimal effort and no biological training whatsoever – you can learn important anti-cancerous things.  Seriously: any of you women who suspect you fall into any enhanced-risk category should take the time to read this stuff.  I can only do so much.  So, Google NCI and find their web page, then read:

                BRCA1 and BRCA2:  Cancer Risk and Genetic Testing

BORED OUT OF MY GOURD, but pressing ahead

No baby?  No problem.

Just grab an armload of Carolyn's Teddy bear collection

During the heat of the day (it has been approaching  90⁰ this week, and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future) I sit inside with my little Toshiba and endeavor  to pass the exams necessary to become a volunteer with the Rivkin people.  Yes, even to lick envelopes you have to pass an exam; two of them, in fact.  Each exam consists of upwards of a dozen “modules”, and each module is at least several pages long – and, I must say – awfully boring.  After studying each module I am required to take an exam.  So far I have completed three modules from the first course, and have passed two with flying colors and the third by the skin of my teeth.  Between modules I mess with my bird feeders, clip the bushes, water the cactus, and even clean the kitchen.  You know my heart’s not in it when I prefer kitchen work to study.

Mind you, I am not blaming the Rivkin people.  Apparently this is a nation-wide sort of initiation ritual, mandated by various governmental agencies designated by acronyms consisting of three or more capital letters (FDA, for example.)  People who sweep the floors of labs or offices concerned with research on human subjects have to take exams; so do UPS guys who drop off packages!  Actually, I’m making that up, of course – but at times all this fuss seems a bit excessive.   But what do I know?  Most of my life I worked with rocks.  Rocks don’t bleed, complain, or hire lawyers.  I’ll gladly take their damned tests if it will allow me to do something about ovarian cancer.       

NOT OC. SAFE, SOUND & VERY STIFF IN BORREGO SPRINGS

Our Borrego Place, 2007

After about 30 hrs. in my "comfy" new  jeep – mercifully broken by five days with Carolyn in Eureka – I have arrived in Borrego Springs.  My digs were almost painfully clean*, everything worked, the plants were healthy, and the temperature was 80⁰ .  I was invited to dinner by Joanne Ingwall and had my customary superb meal and super-abundance of excellent wine – not to mention good conversation.    My only regret was that there was no zucchini squash – Dick says that, although you all sent him many packages of delicious squash, they ate them all up.  He is going to try to grow some himself next year.  Good luck, on Cape Cod.

I have quite a few cancer-related things to read and pass on through this blog, but this morning I’m not in the mood.  In a few days, maybe…  I need to go for a walk before it gets too hot(!).

*But, of course, also painfully empty and quiet.

MORE HIDDEN NUGGETS OF FACT & SPECULATION

Cheyenne.  They grow 'em big in Texas

but they grow 'em bigger in Wyoming

I’m about to leave for Borrego Springs, so I shouldn’t be bothering you with these things for a week or more, probably more.  But since I know how you like to see pictures of Linda I have fabricated an excuse for one more blog-bit.  The excuse is this: people write Comments, most of which are chatty (that is a beautiful picure of Linda), jocular (when will you ever learn to use spell-check?), or downright admonitive  (teleomeres don’t cause cancer, tis ‘tother  way around, blockhead!).  However, some are serious and present interesting facts, observations or speculations – and these certainly deserve to be read and pondered.  Unfortunately, not all of you can be notified of new Comments, and probably very few of you go back and read Comments on earlier blog entries.  So here are some places you should search for these nuggets.  I did something like this on 6/19; this merely brings it up to date.

Name of original blog follows comment

Another battle in the Prostate Cancer Wars, by me.  FOR MEN ONLY: THE PROSTATE CANCER WARS

Comment on ENCODE, the massive genomic study that promises great benefit to mankind, also by me.  ANOTHER SILVER BULLET TARNISHED.

Interesting comment on the parallels between animal and human medicine, by Bunny Schneider.  OVARIAN CANCER AWARENESS MONTH.

Also interesting, a comment about monozygotic twins and their development, by Kristen Beck.  ANOTHER SILVER BULLET TARNISHED

A damned interesting observation, also by Kristen, about ovarian cancer screening.   OVARIAN CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

An impassioned quasi-rant on smoking, flavored cigars, and tobacco advertising, by Bunny.   FLAVORED CIGARS?

Comment on pharamocogenetics and targeted therapies, by Kristen.  OUTLIERS

News of a huge ($3 X 10⁹ ) new research project in Texas, aimed at sequencing  cancer’s  genome and figuring out how to throttle it. I wrote it.  READ THE ECONOMIST

Musings on chemo-brain, also by me.  CIPN

Kristen answers my question regarding Myc: protein, gene, or both.  By the way, she is right – some proteins require more than one gene.  MORE ON Myc

Contrary results on multivitamins as a preventative for cancer.  At least for some, they work.  By me.  EAT YOUR GREENS Myrl Jr., 6/22/12

That’s more than enough.  I sure hope you appreciate it.  It took two damned hours and gave me a headache.

NOT EXACTLY OC; MORE AN EXCUSE TO POST ANOTHER PICTURE

Fall in Michigan

Richard, Linda, Marion

It is a spectacularly rotten day here in Bellingham.  The wind has ripped my neighbor’s flag to ribbons.  The deciduous trees, which have shown exceptionally vivid colors for this part of the world, are suddenly almost bare.   What were piles of crisp leaves that would have tempted Linda to dive in – are now sloppy mounds of rapidly decaying vegetation.   What, you say, is so different?  Bellingham’s always that way.  Well, the problem is that we have had two months of dry, warm, sunny weather that – coupled with cool nights –  have given us a very promising early fall.  I should have known that things were going to return to normal when - last Thursday, our last nice day – I broke 50 in golf for the first time this year.  Whom the gods would punish they first make proud, or something like that. 

So, anyway, I need to prepare for my trip south, which will begin next Wednesday.  I will be driving my minimalist Jeep Wrangler down to Borrego Springs, stopping for a few days with Linda’s sister, Carolyn, in Eureka, CA.  Not long ago driving a Wrangler that far on highways would have been considered insane, or at least stupid, but they are more comfortable* now.  They also get better gas mileage – although I shudder at the prospect of filling the thing up in California, where gas is more expensive than whiskey.    Fortunately, I don’t have to haul much down there – I have ample shorts, t-shirts and hiking shoes stashed there already.  Oh, and underwear and socks, too.  We’re pretty informal in the desert.

Sometimes I get a little discouraged about cancer research.  It is so complicated, and so much about how things work is still unknown!  Heck, if geology was at the same state of knowledge about how the earth works as biologists are about how the human body works, we would still believe in a flat earth, and blame earthquakes on Atlas’s hiccups   But don’t get me wrong – biologists are neither dumber nor lazier than geologist, it’s just that their chosen problem is so much tougher to crack!  If you read these blog things semi-regularly you will remember that I have occasionally tut-tuted about how empirical cancer research often seems to be.  They look for things that will work – predict the likelihood of cancer in the future, predict its course, prevent it, cure it – without worrying overmuch about why they work.  Yes, there is plenty of pure biology going on – this new ENCODE program is a sparkling example – so maybe someday they will be able to base their inquiries on sound theory.  But in the meantime, I’m actually glad they are working so doggedly – even if empirically – and making progress.  A single woman saved from going through what Linda went through is worth a lot of research effort.  If you don’t believe me, ask Carolyn.  But, yeah, I’m getting lugubrious so I’d better stop.  It’s the rain and gloom outside. 

I started this as an excuse to post another picture of Linda.  I hope you like it.

*But see my comment.

MY BIOCHEMICAL CAREER PROGRESSES

Linda and Patches

The world's most beautiful woman attacked by the world's most beautiful cat.

(I will tolerate no disagreement)

Back on March 3^rd I summarized what I thought I would be doing as a volunteer with the ovarian cancer research people at Fred Hutch.   According to that summary a good part of my effort would consist of what I referred to as “unskilled labor”, meaning stuff I could have done better and with greater enthusiasm at age 7 than at age 79.  As it transpired, there was very  little of that sort of thing to do – probably a tiny accumulation over several years of dull repetitive tasks that would naturally acquire a low-priority rating.  I finished that backlog in a few months, and for a long while now I have been going to seminars, reading, writing my blog, and pestering working scientists – with nary an envelope to lick.  I like reading, writing and pestering just fine, but I have felt that I really should be doing more work commensurate with my pay grade.  (As you know, being a volunteer assures that my pay grade is zero.)  But now, it seems, I have discovered an endless supply of tasks requiring a minimum of skill for me to attack.  To explain:  as soon I get back from Borrego Springs I am going to spend Tuesdays (and some Wednesdays) helping out at the Marsha Rivkin Center for Ovarian Cancer Research! 

The Rivkin Center is in Seattle and is attached to Swedish Hospital, located atop what some locals call Pill Hill.  You can read up on it by going to www.rivkin.org.  The Rivkin Center performs all manner of good works; my chief interest is that they raise money to support ovarian cancer researchers all over the world (currently they are helping to support 12 projects, including in Canada, England and Finland.)  They also run their own clinical trials, which brings me to my main point.

Rivkin is running an ovarian cancer early detection program right now.  It is similar to the trial my Hutch group is running, but somewhat easier to participate in.  It is limited to healthy women who fall into a “high risk” category.  Here are the requirements for participation:

You must have at least one ovary, as well as two or more blood relatives with incidences of breast or ovarian cancer.

Alternatively, if you have tested positive for the BRCA1 or 2 genetic marker you are eligible – assuming you have the necessary ovary, of course.

However, if you happen to be of Ashkenazi  Jewish ethnicity, only one blood relative with breast or ovarian cancer will do.

If you apply and are admitted to the trial you will need to come to Seattle once yearly.  The trial follows a blood marker called CA 125, and also involves yearly ultrasound procedures.  In addition it involves filling out the inevitable questionnaires – thus adding to my backlog of unskilled labor*.  The advantages to you of the trial are obvious: in addition to contributing to a vital study you will – as a “high risk” individual – get close monitoring of a sort you would want anyway, and you will get it for free! 

Okay, enough of my salesmanship.  If you think you might be eligible you should call 1-800-328-1124 for more information.  You Bellingham women especially should consider this: the trial already has participants from as far away as eastern Washington.    

* Don't worry - all of that stuff is "anonymous" by the time it gets to someone as lowly as me.

    

HOW TO BE AN EXPERT WITHOUT EVEN TRYING

Linda with Creampuff

About the size of a baby, but with more hair.

There is no easy  way to acquire a working knowledge of genetics, cancer therapies, genetic medicine or any such topic.  Believe me, I know; I’ve tried.  In fact, to be sure of success it probably is necessary to go to medical school, then take a Ph.D.  in molecular biology – and finally work in the field for ten or twelve years. As I  am 79 and plan to be awarded  the Nobel Prize in medicine by age 80, I have to fake it.  You can learn vast amounts from reading textbooks, going to lectures, and bothering working scientists, but not enough.  What is necessary is to secure a sound, overarching, totally superficial knowledge – through the Teaching Company!

I have been studying  two Teaching Company courses over the last few months.  One is good, the other is excellent.  Investing only 30 minutes per day (I watch them while riding an exercise bicycle), anyone can obtain a glib, superficial knowledge of genetics sufficient to enliven any cocktail party or family picnic.  When the conversation turns from politics, Lindsay Lohan, and why the Mariners are so rotten - to retroviruses, lymphocytes and the like – suddenly,  you are the center of attention!  In fact, if you are very clever, you can  subtly guide the conversation around to meiosis, promoters,  junk DNA, and any number of other fascinating things – and then you can give a  lecture!  So what if you don’t get invited to future parties?  After all, who cares?  Really

.

Seriously, if you want to know more about biology in general, genetics, and/or cancer, then I can recommend two Teaching Company courses with confidence.  Neither is particularly easy going, but both are “accessible” if you put in some effort.  Of course, I am bound by the Teaching Companies rules not to lend them to you. But screw that; if you want to borrow them, just ask.

The longer of the two courses (72 half-hour lectures) is “Biology: The Science of Life”.  It is good, but not great.  This is a complete biology course: from atoms and molecules to populations and ecosystems.  The instructor at times looks like a deer in the headlights, and you can see his brain grinding out thoughts such as “My God, how am I going to get through all this stuff in 30 minutes?”  Also, at times he obviously is simply reading from his notes.  However, the coverage is excellent, the graphics are very good, and he does a extremely thorough  job with genetics and genetic-related diseases.  I have gone over those lectures several times and I will do so again, pretty soon.

The second course – “Understanding Genetics: DNA, Genes, and their real-world applications” is excellent.  It is only 24 lectures, hence much less expensive and much easier to consume.  The teacher rather resembles a Caltech freshman of the 1950s (in fact, he is the grown-up  spitting image of a friend of mine, Dirk Swain.)  However, he has a good, sneaky sense of humor.  The lectures are beautifully organized, clear, and to the point.  The Molecular Medicine lectures are worth the price of the entire course. 

I am getting ready to move to Borrego Springs, CA, and get re- involved with the Anza Borrego Park Paleontology Society.  But I’m sure I will keep on blogging.  Thanks to the Internet, Fred Hutch is only a few electrons away.

MORE ON Myc: Boring, but it's a nice picture

!

Ella, Linda and Columbo

A mutual admiration society

Yes, another baby

Back on 7/2/12 I wrote about a piece I had read in the Fred Hutch journal.  It concerned some research by Dr. Carla Grandiori  and her laboratory people on ways to curb the pernicious activities of what I took to be an “oncogene” – a gene which, when mutated (?) drives rapid cell division and, if not counteracted, can lead to cancer.  My confusion was so obvious that one of Dr. Grandiori’s fellow scientist, Heather, offered to buy me a cup of coffee and set me straight.  Wires were crossed and re-crossed, and Heather and I never did get together.  Maybe she will read this blurb and try again.

Anyway, the NCI Cancer Bulletin for 10/2/12 contains a short summary of two papers concerning Myc and its deplorable behavior.  Seems it isn’t a gene at all, it’s a protein.  (However, am I correct when I surmise that there also exists a gene with the same name, one that codes for the Myc protein?  I greatly hope so, or more of what I thought I knew about genetics and biochemistry will fall in ruins.)  Seems also that what this Myc protein does is accelerate the activity of every damned active gene in the cell – not just specific oncogenes.   Thus, if a gene has gone haywire and might cause cancer,  Myc will urge it along.  Frankly, I don’t know what’s going on - but I guess I should take comfort in the realization that they know Myc is a bad actor, and they’re moving  on it.

It may comfort you to know that I no longer am wasting reams of paper printing out any article I run upon that attracts my curiosity.  Too often when I do that I merely end up with is in effect a pile of scratch paper – meaning that I can make neither heads nor tails of what I have printed.  Now I just print the summaries.  I also search for “Press Releases” on the subject; often the institute sponsoring the work wants to make sure it gets the proper credit for its expenditure of research dollars.  But, discouragingly, sometimes  I even have a hard time with the press releases themselves!  Oh, well – that Noble Prize is still out there.

I ALMOST FORGOT:  This is the last paragraph of an “Editorial” that aims to explain the significance of the two papers we have been discussing.  It nicely summarizes some of the difficulties of doing cancer research, as well as my frustrations in trying to comprehend what is going on.

“….What we do have, thanks to these two seminal studies, is a glimpse of a coherent and holistic view of Myc.  We have come a long way since the 1980s’ view wherein Myc exerted its pleiotrophic* biological effects through just a few target genes, whose identification would unlock Myc’s mysteries.  Now Myc regulates a third of everything – and which third depends on everything else.  It’s a strange way for things to turn out.”

I’ll say it’s strange!

*pleiotropy is the condition wherein a single gene has multiple, apparently unrelated, effects.  Thank you Medical Dictionary.