STILL MORE ON PARPi

         PICKING OUT GOURDS TO DECORATE

We have considered PARP inhibitors (PARPi) several times.  There are three currently approved for treatment of ovarian cancer:  drug names Lynparza, Zejula, Rubraca.  They are not a cure but rather a means to prolong PFS (progression-free survival) without recourse to more chemotherapy, which may seriously impact quality of life.  PARPi works best in cases where the BRCA gene is mutated, but may be of some benefit for other OVCA patients.  This article contains much useful information which, with luck, you will never need.  Read it anyway.

https://www.onclive.com/view/weighing-risks-and-benefits-is-critical-with-second-line-maintenance-parp-inhibition-in-ovarian-cancer

Note that it would be very beneficial to know one’s BRCA status.  Any blanket health care system that we may eventually adopt ought to cover BRCA testing for every female.  Tell your favorite local legislator. 

 

 

PROGRESS THROUGH AI

                     OUR SKINNY PHASE

                                              Cat is Whiskers

The Economist has given us an interesting and useful look at some basic biology that you probably already know.  Here it is.  Read it anyway.

https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2020/11/30/how-do-proteins-fold 

So, the body makes proteins by first “reading” an appropriate stretch of DNA to create messenger RNA (mRNA).  The mRNA next travels to the nearest available ribosome, where it in turn is “read”, producing a string of amino acids that we call proteins.  As you know, proteins do everything worth doing in the body – and some that are not worth doing; the “spikes” that attach the coronavirus to our cells are proteins.

You probably also are aware that the function of a protein depends on its shape.  What happens is that the chain of amino acids folds itself into a particular shape in response to the electrostatic forces between elements of the chain.  As many proteins are thousands of amino acids in length, heretofore it has been difficult, if not downright impossible, to predict a folded final configuration from an arbitrary string of amino acids.  Now, however, some disgustingly smart people have devised a way to do just that, using artificial intelligence (AI), often called machine learning.  Potentially, this is hot stuff, medicine wise, because it will allow us to craft our own, artificial, proteins to do specific tasks in the body.  Like. Kill cancer cells.  More progress.

CHILL OUT!

                  LINDA AND CURIOUS NEPHEW

Do you have some dormant cancer cells asleep inside you?  You naturally hope not, but I guess you can’t be sure – especially if you are in remission from a past bout with the disease.  Well, your ever-vigilant NIH newly advises you to avoid stress, in order not to awaken the nasty little bastards.   Apparently experiments with mice have shown that stress can activate production of certain hormones which, in turn, cause inflammation that induces dormant cancer cells to leap into action!  (Questions:  How do you insert dormant cancer cells into a mouse?  How can you tell when a mouse is stressed?) But, anyway – chill out!  Sip a little pumpkin liqueur of an evening and read a good book.  That’s part of my plan for longevity – and I’m 87.

https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/stress-may-awaken-dormant-cancer-cells 

ENCOURAGING NEWS

     

                           

                                            Linda and Amanda                                     

                                                        A long time ago

Unfortunately, many women diagnosed with ovarian cancer find themselves in stage 3c, or even stage 4.  While not an automatic death sentence, such a diagnosis is very bad news.  Thus it is encouraging that a small outfit based in San Francisco, Sutro Biopharma, has successfully completed a Phase 1 trial that holds promise of extended life, and possibly even complete re mission.  Results are summarized in the link  below.  To read it without excessive head scratching it might help to know that RECIST stands for Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors, PR means partial response, and CR stands for complete response

https://www.ajmc.com/view/phase-1-study-of-novel-drug-for-ovarian-cancer-shows-positive-results

BLACK TEA GOOD, SKIM MILK BAD

                                      Linda at Machu Picchu

It would be splendid if we could greatly reduce the risk of contracting ovarian cancer by paying close attention to what we eat and drink,  but, apparently, we can’t.  The link below reports the results of a massive statistical study of diet and OVCA.  The result: a weak negative correlation between black tea intact and OVCA; a weak positive correlation with lactose intact and OVCA.  All else, nil.  Sigh!

https://www.clinicalnutritionjournal.com/article/S0261-5614(20)30653-1/fulltext?rss=yes