The article we have covered in a previous week, “Understanding and exploiting cell signaling convergence nodes and pathway cross-talk in malignant brain cancer” by Nok Him Funga, Corrina A. Grimaa, Samuel S. Widodoa, Andrew H. Kaye, Clarissa A. Whitehead, Stanley S. Stylli, and Theo Mantamadiotisa was an article about recently uncovered mysteries on cancer. Basically, we know already that cancer continues to evolve over time. However, due to this feature, we know that is why Glioblastoma is a very aggressive and invasive cancer.
The article informs us of what cancer specifically is in a intense detail. Though, the article specifically focuses mainly on the aspect of Glioblastoma. As a result of this article, we learnt much on this invasive condition.
Figure one, pictured above, from the article mentioned above is especially excellent at explaining this where it was needed (excellently timed, or in other words placed well). That piece is a diagram expressing the MAPK and the MI3K pathways to elaborate on the condition.^1 The myriad, but consistent colors complements the black words. Although, one slight problem could be that it could feel a large bunch overwhelming if you’re not too familiar with the applied terms and acronyms of figure one in the Neuroscience field. This was an excellent piece to me for it is maximized simplicity because, for clear reasons, that kind of thing strongly helps. The figure may also benefit people uninvolved in Neuroscience as well because figure one uses so much brief, yet descriptive, labeling, and I find that effective myself in general because it’s easy on the eyes to track or logicate.
Now, at this point, one, such as yourself, may wonder why people really should care about all the above information. Well, let’s answer with essential basics to answer ourselves by quickly asking ourselves something simpler first; what really is a cancer? Well, the answer is absolutely nothing short of deeply important, and very, very scary. According to the National Cancer Institute, a cancer is known as a scenario where a cells develops mutated in a harmful, bypasses various immune responses meant to kill this exact kind of thing, and then divides into clusters of mass.^2 Considering what we know about cancer long by now, it’s no shock to pretty much anyone that such a scenario can turn serious fast. Let us put this into perspective with similar topic.
In my class, I personally examined the various ways that something called a Xenograft benefits humanity. Surprisingly, I learned from Caroline Mitchellthat Xenografts are not some kind of scientific instrument like i originally suspected when I first heard it, but rather its actually the concept of using biological cells, tissues, and even organs beyond human origins.^3 Using pigs as an example, we can accept their hearts in our bodies to serve as our own, use their skin to temporarily treat burn victims, use their kidneys as our own when we lose to kidney failure and need new kidneys, and much more (including cancer treatments of course) all because we share a lot of biology with pigs. It is little short of incredible how essential Xenografts could very much be to resolve issues like the infamous organ donor hospitals dread worldwide. In the end, however, we must continue to strive toward scientific excellence to uncover the best possible solutions. As I conclude this blog post, I actually conclude my final blog on all, so I wish to shout out my teacher for being incredible to me.
References:
1) “Understanding and exploiting cell signaling convergence nodes and pathway cross-talk in malignant brain cancer” by Nok Him Funga, Corrina A. Grimaa, Samuel S. Widodoa, Andrew H. Kaye, Clarissa A. Whitehead, Stanley S. Stylli, and Theo Mantamadiotisa
2) https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/understanding/what-is-cancer
3) https://www.taconic.com/resources/what-is-xenograft (Caroline Michell)
