TEN YEARS

 Linda and Patches grab some serious down time

I have been away from my computer for several weeks, visiting my daughter and husband at their beautiful farm in Wisconsin,  I travelled by Amtrack, and one of these days I will write something about that experience, which was more or less pleasant.  But, in the meantime the 10^th anniversary of Linda’s death rolled by.  The picture shows her about 25 years ago, enjoying some serious down time with a creature that grew into what must have been the world’s most beautiful cat, Patches.  Oh how I wish they were here with me today.

God made a serious blunder when he took Linda instead of me all those years ago.  She had a long and productive life left to live, whereas I was more or less worn out.  Agnostic though I always have been, I even asked Him, as she was about to go, to let me take her place.  Such are the silly things we think at such moments.  Anyway, if Linda dying of ovarian cancer in such an unnecessarily cruel way is in any way part of “God’s plan”, then I don’t like Him very much.  I prefer to think it was all the result of brute biology and bad luck.  At least we can fight back against the brute biology part by donating to her research fund at Fred Hutch.  You can track it down easily; start by Googling “Linda Joyce Beck” and go from there.  Thanks.  And those of you who knew her should take a moment to remember how beautiful, kind and loving she was.

SEVERAL RELEVANT TOPICS

                                                    In Athens

                                                        God, how I miss her

Here is a discussion of the importance of seeking out a clinical trial if you get an OVCA diagnosis.  If at all possible, enroll at one of the top research hospitals: Fred Hutch, Sloan Kettering, Fox Chase, MD Anderson, etc.  It would be worth a long commute.

https://www.curetoday.com/view/making-strides-in-ovarian-cancer

And here is another discussion, of a new anti-OVCA drug, Rucaparib.  This bio-weapon belongs to a class of drugs called PARPi, with which you, as faithful readers of this blog  are familiar.  (If not, consult Professor Google).  Apparently Rucaparib is most effective if used before standard, platinum-based, chemotherapy.  For some unfathomable reason OVCA cells develop an effective defense against Rucaparib if first attacked by platinum!  Nasty little bastards!

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-05/uows-nco050321.php 

 

HELP FROM THE PLANT KINGDOM

           Linda studies the geology of central Oregon

While killing time prowling through the WiFi jungle in search of useful news about either either/or ovarian cancer or the stock market, I stumbled upon an article which may turn out to be a double whammy:

https://www.healtheuropa.eu/promise-for-ovarian-cancer-treatment-from-plant-derived-drug/107818/

Seems as though some people in Kentucky have uncovered evidence that a drug called artesunate – heretofore employed as a heavy duty weapon against advanced malaria – may have genuine value against ovarian cancer as well.  At least. In vitro it looks likely.  The authors of this blurb suggest that it might be combined with carboplatin and paclitaxel as a first-strike therapy.  Probably not a cure, but welcome nonetheless.

Warning:  artesunate is derived from a member of the very common Artemisia family.  For heaven’s sake, don’t just go out,  pick some common Artemisia plant and steam it for dinner.  Some are poisonous.

As for the stock market potential – forgetaboutit!

 

 

PROGRESS REPORT

                 A WARM DAY, ON SANTORINI

Here is a summary of recent research directions specific to ovarian cancer.  As we all know by now, immunotherapy has been disappointing in the treatment of OVCA, although to this the author is cautiously (and vaguely) optimistic.  Several treatments that help prolong life are mentioned – including PARPi, with which you are already familiar.  Acronyms you might not recognize are TP53 inhibitors, and Wee 1 inhibitors.  Both interfere with cell division and thus “inhibit” the proliferation of fast-dividing cancer cells.  Alas, not cures, but helpful all the same.

This is an oral presentation, which I was unable to play owing to the fact that my computer was designed sometime in the 19^th century.  Fortunately, a printed summary also is required.  I wonder what I missed.

https://www.targetedonc.com/view/future-directions-in-ovarian-cancer 

 

 

HEALTH ADVICE FROM THE STOCK MARKET

                 Two of my all-time favorite creatures

I am almost ashamed of this posting.  Almost.  I found it trolling for stock-market tips, but subsequently verified it with some legitimate bio-investigation.  It appears that an outfit that calls itself Clovis Oncology has ascertained that its new oral drug Rubraca improves PFS (Progression Free Survival) to a significant degree.  While not the Holy Grail, this certainly is welcome progress. Clovis stock promptly shot up 17%.

 If you have OVCA, heaven forfend, make sure your oncologist knows about this new stuff.

Note that I am definitely not recommending that you sink your nest egg into Clovis stock (CLVS; $6.14/share as of right now).  As far as I can see, Clovis has yet to make a profit.  But I hope someday soon they do.

ANOTHER "ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW" ESSAY

                  Linda and her Mom on Marion's wedding day

I know, you probably are getting tired of me shirking my duties and simply referring you to the latest “everything you need to know” article, but this one really is useful and you should read it.  Besides, I know you mainly look at my blogs for the pretty pictures of Linda.

https://www.pharmacytimes.com/view/explore-ovarian-cancer-treatments-through-clinical-trials 

 

CHRONIC PAIN" WHO NEEDS IT?

              TWO OF MY FAVORITE PEOPLE

NIH Director Francis Collins has newly blogged about a very interesting and important biochemical development; a means to combat chronic pain. 

I can imagine nothing much worse than living with chronic pain.  Hell, there are nights – not many of them, thankfully – when a tiny little ache somewhere in my aging body will require me to choose between several undesirable courses of action:  either gulp down more pain pills than are good for me, or gut it out, lose sleep, and feel like crap the next day.   Admittedly, I’m no hero, but I can’t imagine surviving with serious pain that never lets up.  Some cancer patients on chemo experience just that.  I hope this discovery helps.

It appears that a scientist at UC San Diego, assisted by 13 graduate students and post docs -  no wonder these guys are so productive! – has found a way to deactivate a gene that plays a major role in the “pain” experience.  He got the idea from studying the genomes of those rare persons born with a total inability to hurt.  (Did you know such folks existed?  I certainly didn’t.)  The tool involved is our old friend CRISPR Cas9, with the gene-snipping enzyme deactivated.  A significant advantage of this new wrinkle is that it can be reversed.  Here, read Dr. Collin’s usual lucid prose:

https://directorsblog.nih.gov/2021/04/01/could-crispr-gene-editing-technology-be-an-answer-to-chronic-pain/