Latest news with #bone marrow transplant
Sustainability Times
12-08-2025
- Health
- Sustainability Times
"They Found A Virus Hiding In Her DNA": Doctors Shocked As Beta-HPV Drives Aggressive Skin Cancer Until Stem Cell Transplant Saves Her Life
IN A NUTSHELL 🔬 Researchers found beta-HPV can integrate into DNA, directly promoting skin cancer growth. can integrate into DNA, directly promoting skin cancer growth. 🧬 The study focused on a 34-year-old woman with recurrent cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma . . 🤝 A collaborative medical approach led to a successful bone marrow stem cell transplant for treatment. for treatment. 💡 The findings suggest new avenues for personalized cancer treatments targeting viral factors in immunocompromised patients. A groundbreaking study has unveiled new insights into the role of the human papillomavirus (HPV) in the development of certain skin cancers. Previously, beta-HPV was considered a minor player in cancer progression, primarily exacerbating UV-induced damage. However, recent findings indicate that this virus can integrate itself into cellular DNA, directly promoting cancer growth. This revelation emerged from a detailed examination of a 34-year-old woman affected by recurrent cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) on her forehead. The discovery that beta-HPV can hijack the body's cells to sustain cancer growth signals a significant shift in our understanding of viral contributions to cancer. Unveiling the Mechanism of Cancer Development The study centered on a young woman who faced persistent cSCC despite undergoing multiple treatments, including surgeries and immunotherapy. Researchers delved into the genetic makeup of her tumors, uncovering that beta-HPV had not only infiltrated her DNA but was also producing viral proteins that facilitated cancer's resilience and growth. This marked the first time beta-HPV was observed integrating into cellular DNA, challenging previous assumptions about its role in cancer. Immunologist Andrea Lisco from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) highlighted the broader implications of this finding. It suggests that there could be more cases of aggressive cSCC linked to underlying immune defects, which might be better addressed through treatments targeting the immune system rather than conventional methods. Asteroid Impact 'It's Not Sci-Fi Anymore' Research Led by Carrie Nugent Compares Odds to Lightning, Rabies, and Car Crashes—Public Left Reeling The woman's condition underscored a critical aspect of the study: her inherited immune disorder, specifically an issue with the ZAP70 protein, hampered her T cells' ability to combat HPV. While her immune system could still repair UV-induced DNA damage, the impairment allowed beta-HPV to invade and trigger cancer. Her case illustrates the complex interplay between viruses, immune function, and cancer development. A Collaborative Approach to Treatment Upon identifying the viral integration, the patient received a bone marrow stem cell transplant aimed at replacing her faulty T cells with functional ones. This intervention proved successful, resolving her aggressive skin cancer and other HPV-related issues. Over a three-year follow-up, none of her conditions recurred, highlighting the potential of personalized, targeted treatments. Scientists Warn 'These Ice Quakes Could Shatter' After Detecting Mysterious Deep Tremors In Greenland's Frozen Rivers 'This discovery and successful outcome would not have been possible without the combined expertise of virologists, immunologists, oncologists, and transplant specialists,' Lisco noted. The interdisciplinary effort was crucial in navigating the complexities of the patient's condition and devising an effective treatment strategy. While UV radiation remains a well-known cause of skin cancer, this case underscores that other factors, such as viral infections, can also play a significant role, particularly in individuals with compromised immune systems. The study's findings advocate for a more nuanced understanding of cancer etiology and the development of tailored treatment approaches. 'This Changes Everything': Scientists Unearth Pristine Ancient Forest Frozen For Thousands Of Years In Rocky Mountains Lessons from Related Viral Diseases The success of vaccination programs against alpha-HPV, which is responsible for many cervical and throat cancers, provides a hopeful perspective. These efforts have led to a substantial decline in deaths from such cancers, emphasizing the impact of targeted preventive measures. The parallels between alpha-HPV and beta-HPV suggest that similar strategies could be beneficial in managing virus-associated skin cancers. While the prospect of a universal cure for cancer remains distant, the ongoing advancements in understanding the molecular and viral underpinnings of various cancer types are promising. The new research on beta-HPV contributes to this growing body of knowledge, potentially paving the way for more effective interventions for cSCC and beyond. The Future of Cancer Treatment As research continues to unravel the intricate relationships between viruses, immune function, and cancer, the medical community is prompted to reconsider treatment paradigms. This study highlights the importance of recognizing viral factors in cancer development, especially in immunocompromised individuals. It raises the question of how personalized medicine can be further integrated into standard cancer care. With the findings published in The New England Journal of Medicine, the study opens new avenues for research and treatment. As we advance in our understanding of cancer's multifaceted nature, the question remains: how can we best leverage these insights to improve outcomes for patients with diverse genetic and immunological backgrounds? 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The Guardian
19-05-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
Changing opinions on the assisted dying bill
Regarding Polly Toynbee's article (MPs are voting on the next stage of the assisted dying bill. This is their chance to create a legacy. 15 May), in June 2018, I received a bone marrow transplant for myelofibrosis – a condition that, only a few years earlier, would have led to a fairly uncomfortable and painful death. My consultant at the time, whom I liked and respected greatly, was not hopeful the transplant would succeed. My quality of life had been steadily deteriorating, and the two years that followed the transplant were extremely difficult. I remain immunocompromised and live with chronic health conditions that require monitoring, and yet, despite everything, I have had a number of years of life well lived. Had you asked my opinion of assisted dying eight, five or three years ago, I might have responded very differently. My views then would have been shaped by pain, the mental toll of illness, the isolation it brings and the deep sense of guilt over the burden I felt I placed on those close to me, and over the NHS resources I consume. Medical opinions often differ, and I've witnessed how care can shift depending on how a patient presents – mood, appearance and speech all have an effect on our treatment. In an unequal society, how can we ensure that a decision as final as assisted dying is truly free from undue influence or even prejudice? The risk is that the bill could unintentionally set us on a path where choosing to die becomes seen as a selfless or responsible act, disproportionately affecting the poorest and most vulnerable in our society, and safeguards will be eroded as society becomes 'trained' to see assisted dying as just another life option. Current societal norms of compassion for the weakest and the poorest in society will become eroded as assisted dying replaces improved funding for compassionate and comprehensive palliative GibbonCardiff The Royal College of Psychiatrists' position risks underestimating both the safeguards in the assisted dying bill and the capacity of terminally ill people to make autonomous, informed decisions about their lives (Royal College of Psychiatrists says it cannot yet support assisted dying bill, 14 May). Kim Leadbeater's bill applies only to mentally competent adults with a terminal diagnosis and a prognosis of six months or less. It includes clear protections to ensure that choices are freely made and not influenced by untreated mental illness. Suggesting that psychiatrists are unable to assess this not only undermines our expertise but risks denying dying individuals the right to make decisions about their own bodies in their final days. Autonomy in healthcare is a fundamental principle. Every day, patients make complex, life-altering choices about surgery, treatment refusal, even palliative sedation. That the same liberty should be withheld at the end of life is not only inconsistent but deeply unjust. With more than 25 years' experience of supporting families in their most challenging and vulnerable moments, I know that compassion and clinical rigour can and must coexist. Other countries have shown that it is possible to create safe, ethical systems of care for terminally ill patients who may be considering assisted dying. In this country, only those with the means to travel to Dignitas can exercise this choice. We have, in effect, a two-tier system: access to assisted dying is available, but only to the wealthy. That is not a safeguard, it is an elitist Sabina DosaniChild and adolescent psychiatrist; visiting researcher and ambassador for medical and health humanities, University of East Anglia We should not be surprised that MPs are changing their minds on the assisted dying bill (At least five more MPs decide to vote against England and Wales assisted dying bill, 14 May). In the House of Commons, assisted dying may present as a 'for or against' voting issue, but the reality of decision-making is far less straightforward. Besides aye and nay, other valid positions can easily be overlooked – for example, 'yes if', 'no unless', 'not yet', 'don't know'. Dividing lines run through the cabinet, parliament, the medical profession, the charitable sector, communities and families. They also run through individuals, not least those who are or may become terminally ill. The lines move as circumstances change; people change their minds – often. The legislative process has catalysed debate around assisted dying. Regrettably, the debate has been unduly affected by the process, especially since a private member's bill is being considered. More time for wider deliberation and discussion, without the pressure of parliamentary timetables, would have been welcome. Given the subject, any legislation would always be controversial – some would say rightly so – but legislation should follow a broader, more deliberate national discussion. Here, the horse appears to have found itself behind the cart. Full disclosure: I am living with an incurable illness. Before and since diagnosis, I have been firmly against assisted dying, in principle and in practice. If media coverage is anything to go by, stark realities surrounding end-of-life issues seem to be overshadowed by exchanges of sincerely held but stridently expressed views. It feels as if people are in danger of losing out to process; we must do and address supplied Thank you for Lucy Webster's measured piece on assisted dying (The assisted dying lobby isn't being honest with you – disabled people are at risk from this bill, 14 May). As a person with complex health problems, including multiple sclerosis and brain haemorrhage, I believe that the passing of this bill will be the very thin edge of a terrifying wedge. With disabled people's rights under attack by successive governments, who is to say that in 10 or 20 years' time, the supposedly 'economically inactive' will not be encouraged to cease being a burden on their families and society. I am not economically inactive – I receive personal independence payment, and I spend it; I enjoy my life immensely, despite its limitations. I never, ever thought that a Labour government would decide to consign people unable to work to the scrapheap or, potentially, open the door to an even worse ConnidesEast Finchley, London
