Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Horizons in Cancer Research Vol.57, Hiroto S. Watanabe, Editör, NOVA Science Publishers Inc. , New York, ss.105-157, 2015
Cancer
is a disease with uncontrolled division and proliferation of the cells in an
organism and is under the influence of genetic and environmental factors but
probably the most important factor is human itself. There are more than 100
types of cancer but cancer is also personal. Besides social and economic burden
of cancer, patients are affected by side effects of conventional treatments
like radiotherapy and chemotherapy. For this reason, scientists are studying on
new approaches like gene therapy, cancer vaccines, stem cell therapy,
developing tumor specific antibodies, modifying the tumor microenvironment,
using miRNAs and immunotherapy which are faster, cheaper, more effective with
less side effects. Gene therapy can cure a disease by either making a non-functional
gene work again by repairing, replacing, silencing the gene or by killing the
tumor cell. Cancer vaccines usually target the tumor and deliver their agent
selectively on tumor cells or activate the immune system for tumor cell
destruction. Another approach for treatment is the use of oncolytic vectors
which target the tumor cells. miRNAs can also be used in cancer treatment by
defining the miRNA profiles in body fluids, facilitate the diagnosis and
monitoring the process. By modifying the tumor microenvironment, cancer cells
can be killed and thus the disease can be cured.
The
aim of this chapter is to summarize all methods and latest developments in
cancer therapy in one combined. It has been focused more on latest technologies
and techniques rather than well-known standard therapies. When one wants to
learn about cancer, there is more than enough information about therapies,
approaches, scientific evidence, superstitions and rumors. It may be necessary
to dig deeper to reach the useful knowledge. Generally speaking, books,
journals or articles focus on only one or two types of treatment, usually
pushing their benefits but only a limited number of publications provide
collective data. The reader is usually confused what to search for and what to
believe in. This section has been written for the purposes of filling the gap
between simple information and extensive complicated data. This chapter
summarizes all available treatments and latest developments in a clear and
simple language by supporting scientific evidence from latest studies and
milestones of therapies and arguing pros et
contras of the methods.