One in two of us will develop cancer in our lifetime. Thanks to advances in diagnosis and treatment, though, more people are surviving cancer than ever. Will this trend continue and how close are we to finding a cure? That upward survival trend is likely to continue. But finding a cure? That's not so easy to answer, for a simple reason: cancer isn't one single disease but a collection of more than 200, each with unique features. Yet every cancer consists of a mass of abnormal cells, all originating from a single mutated cell that began to divide uncontrollably.
Cell division one cell dividing to produce two new ones - is essential for growing and maintaining our bodies. Cells that have become worn out or damaged must be replaced. This process is tightly controlled, so that cells are produced only when needed, and in the exact numbers and locations required. Cancer cells evade those controls and divide chaotically, while also eluding the back-up systems that suppress growth and weed out abnormally behaving cells. The result is a tumour.
Cancer cells acquire these characteristics through gene mutations. One important group of genes comprises the proto-oncogenes, which mutate to continuously produce a signal telling cancer cells to divide, becoming oncogenes. Turning off that oncogenic signal stops cancer cells dividing and can even kill them. That's the principle underpinning the concept of targeted cancer therapies, a treatment approach in which much progress has been made.
Targeted cancer therapies are more effective and have fewer side effects than traditional treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and have now been in use for almost 50 years. The first were hormone therapies used for diseases such as breast and prostate cancer, whose growth depends on the hormones oestrogen and testosterone, respectively.
Denne historien er fra New Year 2024-utgaven av BBC Science Focus.
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Denne historien er fra New Year 2024-utgaven av BBC Science Focus.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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COULD MARINE CLOUD BRIGHTENING HELP US FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE?
The theory behind marine cloud brightening is that brighter or whiter clouds reflect more sunlight back into space.
IS IT SAFE TO RUN EVERY DAY, OR SHOULD I DITCH MY RUN STREAK TO SAVE MY KNEES?
A running streak, where you run every day without taking rest days, can be highly motivating and beneficial for overall fitness. Running is great cardiovascular exercise and isn't to be discouraged (and finding a routine with some consistency is great). Getting a bit of exercise as often as possible is also hugely beneficial for your mental health.
WHAT MAKES THE MEDITERRANEAN DIET SO GOOD FOR US?
The Mediterranean diet may help you live longer, especially if you also adopt the lifestyle of people living near the Med during the 1950s.
WHAT IS MEXICO'S BLUE HOLE?
The world's deepest blue hole (marine sinkhole) lies off the coast of Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula. It's at least 420m (1,378ft) deep, but explorers still haven't found its bottom.
HOW CAN I TELL IF I'VE GOT HIGH CORTISOL LEVELS?
Cortisol is a hormone produced by glands in our bodies called the adrenal glands, which sit above the kidneys. It plays a critical role in various bodily functions, including regulating metabolism, reducing inflammation and helping the body respond to stress. While essential for our health, chronic elevation of cortisol levels can lead to several issues.
THE LUNGFISH
In 1836, European scientists discovered a peculiar animal from the River Amazon that they struggled to identify. Its eel-like body was a few feet long and its air-filled lungs persuaded anatomists it must be a reptile.
ARE WE THE ONLY SPECIES TO HAVE BEEN THROUGH A STONE AGE?
The Stone Age might conjure up images of early humans, sitting around a campfire or hunting prehistoric beasts, but evidence shows that we're not the only species that has learned how to work with stone tools. Wild chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) use stone tools to crack open nuts.
Should we scrap daylight saving time?
Most of us look forward to the extra hour we get in bed every October, but researchers argue that changing the clocks twice a year harms our health
THE INTERNET OF ANIMALS
SCIENTISTS ARE USING ELECTRONIC TAGS AND SATELLITES TO TRACK WILD ANIMALS AND CREATE A DATA NETWORK THAT COULD HELP US ADDRESS THE BIODIVERSITY CRISIS
MUSIC FOR A DISTRACTED GENERATION
The number of things competing for our attention is often overwhelming. Can dreamy soundscapes created with neuroscience help our bewildered brains to concentrate?
