Cancer Marker

In the article Multipurpose Molecule for Cancer Surgery the author Lauren Gravitz talks about a protein marker that could be used in treating cancer patients. The marker was created to help surgeons remove cancerous tissue from patients. The protein is made up of two parts. The first part of the molecule gets cut off when in the presence of cancerous tissue. By it getting cut off the second part of the molecule is able to freely enter the tissue of the patient. This labeled protein then fluoresces green. While operating the surgeons would be able to see this fluorescent green and use it as a marker of how much tissue they should remove.

This breakthrough however does not mean it is one hundred percent working. This only helps surgeons find out how much tissue they can remove not how cancer can be treated. This also does not leave out the possibility that some cancer will go unnoticed. For smaller masses of cancerous tissue may not light up as bright as a much larger mass will thus critically affect the surrounding tissue with lower concentration of cancer. The scientists have thought of a way to kill the surrounding tissue that is not in effect yet however. They want to add a third chain that is toxic when hit upon with white light. With this all the tissue that was not removed would be destroyed by the toxin. This does show promise in the removal of cancer and is one step closer to helping the human population fight cancer.

Early Warning For Cancer?

In the article An Early Warning System For Cancer written by Jennifer Chu she discusses a new potential early warning system for cancer. The research consists of testing to see if there are autoantibodies in the bloodstream. Autoantibodies are agents in the bloodstream that attack the body itself found in cases when patients with tumors or have been recently diagnosed with cancer. There is however no strong link proven yet explains the author but the signs are there. The most interesting part about the use of marking autoantibodies is that none were found in healthy patients. However they were in about 20-30% of patients with cancer. This may not seem significant but with more research one may know that having autoantibodies in ones system could be a signal to get checked for cancer. The research is promising and even with not a significant percentage of cancer patients having the autoantibodies in them there is a few percent of people that can be saved because of it.

The author discusses how this test should be included with a yearly physical to let the person be aware if there are autoantibodies to go get checked out. I agree completely with her for the autoantibodies can be a first sign of cancer developing and by stopping it while it is starting would save many lives. This is also promising for it allows a marker that is find in people that have something wrong in their body know there is something wrong. There is also no evidence of there being auto antibodies in healthy individuals. So either way there may be cancer or something else wrong in either case the patient can get checked and potentially get cured before anything happens.

Why am I interested in being a Biomedical Engineer?

Ever since I was young I always loved building things with legos. I would buy a pack of legos and let my imagination run wild. I would create objects from space ships to castles. When I was young I always wanted to help people also. I would watch doctor programs and learn how to treat wounds and prevent infections. I would learn how to diagnose sickness and other health issues. While I was growing up and trying to decide what major I wanted I was lost in a loop. I wanted to be an engineer because I loved building things but I also wanted to be a doctor because I loved helping sick and injured people. When talking to my councilor she suggested for me to look into biomedical engineering. So I went home and followed her advice and looked it up. Too my surprise it was the combination of both being an engineer and a doctor. I would be able to combine my passions of both building things and helping those who needed help at once.

The field I am most interested in is with nanotechnology. Nanotechnology can revolutionize medicine by having nanobots deliver medicine directly to the area ailed. This is especially important to cancer patients. The nanobots could apply chemotherapy directly to the cancerous area. More information of nanobots and nanotechnology can be found here: http://www.understandingnano.com/medicine.html