December 1st, 2008

While we are waiting for the day of my dad's surgery, I have decided to research what cancer is and what it does to the body. I want to know everything about it so that I may help my father and family in anyway possible. I started with the basics, what is cancer? I learned that it is when the cells go completely out of control, they reproduce at an uncontrollable rate and take over the body and it's energy.

Next, I wanted to take a closer look. What is it that makes these cells behave this way? Why do they all of a sudden begin to reproduce in such a fast manner? I found out that the errors occur in the Cell Cycle. this is a process that all cells go through in oder to reproduce. There are four steps in this process, M-stage, G1, S-Stage and G2. M-stage is where mitosis occurs, which is when the cell is dividing into two "Daughter Cells".

Mitosis begins with the DNA duplicating and tightening into more compact shapes called chromosomes. This stage is also known as prophase. The membrane of the nucleus falls apart so that the chromosomes can move to the center of the cell during metaphase. Then, during anaphase, spindle fibers from the centrioles pull the chromosomes apart and into opposite poles of the cell. As a new nuclear membrane forms around the two clusters of DNA in telophase, the cell membrane pinches off into the two Daughter cells. This stage is also known as cytokinesis.

G1 is where the cell grows, organelles grow in size to prepare for splitting. S-stage is the synthesis of DNA. This is when the DNA replicates and splits. The final step is G2, again, the cell grows and prepares for M-stage. However, cells are not able to pass through to each of these steps very easily. Between M-Stage and G1 there is a "Stop Sign" and another one between S-Stage and G2.

These stop signs are actually proteins called p53. P53 is a tumor suppressor gene. To pass the stop signs, two chemicals, kinase and cyclin have to attach to each other in order to keep moving through the cell cycle. The protein P53 attaches to cyclin so that it can not join with kinase until it is time to do so.

Cancer occurs when these proteins (P53) are not stopping any of the cells from reproducing. In other words, P53 in not attaching to cyclin for some reason. Cyclin is then free to attach to kinase at any rate and reproduce without stopping at the stop signs. It is important for all cells to stop for at least a moment because this is the time when cells make sure all the DNA replication and division has gone correctly. There is less of a chance for mistakes if there are stop signs.

I also found out that there are genes called oncogenes that help cancer worsen. Oncogenes were once protoncogenes. The cells went bad and then they serve as a gain of function for all of the cancerous cells. Oncogenes help with angionesis which helps cancer cells grow blood vessels so that they may receive all the nutrients they need to continue growing. They cause metasis too. This helps cancer sell travel through out the body. Everything an oncogene does somehow helps the cancer cells grown and worsen.

There are also Tumor Suppressor Genes that as a loss of function for cells . TSG's work to help moderate the reproduction of cells. They work to stop cell reproduction if there is anything wrong in the cell, such as DNA damage, or lack of growth. The loss of function of these genes is when problems really start to occur. If TSG do not function correctly and regulate cell reproduction, the cells might become mutated and cause cancer.

To say the least, I am very confused about it all, but I think I am starting to understand better that i did before. I am still not sure exactly what to be thinking right now, why him? What made his cells go bad in his brain? There are so many things that I wish I could know, but I am never going to get all of the answers.