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Unregulated cell growthCancer, although heterogeneous by its very nature, can be broadly defined as a set of diseases characterised by unregulated cell growth leading to invasion of surrounding tissues and spread (metastasis) to other parts of the body (King et al., 2006). Inhibiting cell division therefore represents a key therapeutic target for cancer.Characteristics of cancer cellsIn their seminal review, Hanahan and Weinberg identified 6 key characteristics of cancer cells, namely: autostimulation; angiogenesis; metastasis; insensitivity to antiproliferative signals; resistance to apoptosis; and limitless replicative potential (Hanahan et al., 2000). This list was recently expande …

By Catríona Dowling, Post-Doc, RCSI I want you to come on a journey with me where we are going to the botanic gardens. You will pick a section of the garden that is yours: yours to treasure and nourish. If a weed started to grow in that garden, would you chose to ignore the weed or would you try to remove it? And if you did leave it there, would you expect it to grow and spread or just stay as it is? I am no Diarmuid Gavin but what I am is a cancer researcher and I am here to try and explain the benefits of cancer prevention and early diagnosis. Did you know that 50% of all cancers are preventable with 30% preventable by lifestyle changes alone? Cancer is like the weed in our bod …

ELISA Genie is delighted to announce the date of our next Cancer Research Club which will be taking place on the 31st of March at TTMI, Trinity College Dublin. This event will focus on the role of the mucosal immunity & genetic pathology of the colon. Genetic Pathology & Mucosal Immunity Date: 31/03/2020 Time: 1:30 pm - 5 pm Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, St James's Hospital window.SHOGUN_IMAGE_ELEMENTS = window.SHOGUN_IMAGE_ELEMENTS || …

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most frequently occurring cancers and there are 630,000 new cases diagnosed every year worldwide (De Minicis et al. 2013). HCC develops frequently from chronic hepatitis or cirrhosis of the liver (Thorgeirsson and Grisham 2002). These conditions result in hepatocyte destruction and promotion of immune cell invasion of the liver tissue, which in turn results in changes of the matrix and micro-environment of the liver (Bosch et al. 1999). Hepatitis B virus About 80% of HCC develops from hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and aflatoxin B1 (AFB) (Bosch et al. 1999). The development of HCC can take nea …

By Charlotte O’Donnell PhD Cancer Carcinogenesis is a multi-step process that develops through epigenetic changes and mutation of multiple genes, including loss of function of tumour suppressor genes and gain of function of oncogenes. These genetic changes in normal cells can each contribute a growth advantage, leading to the transformation of cells into cancer cells [1]. In 2000, Hanahan and Weinberg described a series of 6 biological capabilities or ‘hallmarks’ acquired by most types of cancers during the multi-step development of cancer (Figure 1). They are as follows; ‘sustaining proliferative signalling’, …

Nanosilver is the most commercialised nanoparticle routinely used for its antibacterial purposes in food preservation, cosmetic and health products such as medical devices and wound treatment products (Vance et al., 2015). Interestingly, research on nanosilver has now progressed beyond antibacterial use to application as anticancer owing to some studies that have demonstrated the anticancer properties of nanosilver (Zhang et al., 2014, Zhang et al., 2016). Unfortunately, the wide antibacterial application of nanosilver coupled with the very high amounts of the nanoparticles in these commercialised and every day consumable products with the new anticancer application portends a seri …

By Charlotte O'Donnell PhD …

By Charlotte O’Donnell PhD Inflammation and Cancer The link between inflammation and cancer is well established, with inflammation highlighted as one of the enabling characteristics in cancer development [1]. As early as 1863, Virchow indicated that cancer tended to occur at sites of chronic inflammation. Indeed many cancers are associated with chronic inflammation. Patients with chronic hepatitis caused by Hepatitis B and C infection are at increased risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma, while infection with human papilloma virus (HPV) is linked to the development of cervical cancer [2]. In the colon, infla …