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When it comes to cancer, there are too many factors that go together. Although the cause is usually genetic, people without antecedents can face a diagnosis of cancer. It can also appear from certain viruses (Barrett's esophagus, presence of hepatitis B or C, among others) or bad habits.
We are still told that these risk factors can be reduced, as well as that treatments evolve positively against cancer. And it's like that.
Despite what we believe, even we can change our genes! This was explained at the last meeting by Roche Press Day, Argentine specialist Ricardo Álvarez, medical director of cancer research and oncologist at the Cancer Treatment Centers of America.
Álvarez is recognized in the United States for its contribution to multidisciplinary breast cancer, particularly in inflammatory breast cancer.
1- Nutrigenomics
Nutrigenomic research already exists.
Nutrigenomics, or the effect that nutrients exert on the genome, studies the fact that the food we eat can modulate the expression of certain genes.
And the researcher Ricardo Álvarez says that the acquisition of a new culture has a negative effect on our genes, giving as an example to the Hispanic people
. years, the Hispanic protective effect is diluted with acculturation. We see it a lot in the "Chicano" populations (Americans of Mexican origin), who are on the border of the United States with Mexico. Children aged 14 or 17 with type 2 diabetes are seen, and this condition is commonly seen in people 60 to 70 years old. Because of their culture, it can be said that their genetics have a very low ability to adapt (to the new diet, all that American fast-food) and that is why they suffer the consequences, "explains # 39; expert.
2 – We can change our genes
Álvarez says that through changes in habits like diet and exercise, we can change our genes.
"On the precepts we had before, genes were something we had fixed and unfortunately that of" we have good genes and bad genes ", nowadays we can say and we know that these genes can be modified and with changes in habits! The most common is smoking.There are many molecular changes and decelerating genes when we stop smoking. "
Alvarez Oncologist is based on research like "The Gene" (by Siddhartha Mukherjee), which explains the behavior of genes. ] 3- Genes Are Inducible
When we talk about inducible genes, we are talking about the presence of a substance (an inducer) in the environment, igniting the expression of One or more genes. And this is used against cancer.
"Most genes are good: they help us to proliferate cells, to have new functions.On the other hand, cancer is uncontrolled growth, unprogrammed and can not be stopped, which is part of a small group of these genes.We have almost 3,000 different gene types, but only 300 are involved in cancer progression. "
He says that soon there will be 300 drugs to attack each type. "And that we have just started in the last 3 years, today we see that we can control about 40 to 50 genes with the new drugs we have."
4 – Personalized Medicine, precision
Global oncologists focus on personalized medicine, also called precision processing
Individualized or Precision Treatment, "basically means that we are going to treat a particular defect in tumors.Today, we we are more interested in the type of tumor genetics, because we can treat people suffering from different types of cancer with the same drugs, provided that they share the same genetic alteration, "says the researcher.
L & # 39; immunotherapy has already begun, being that of lung cancer, bladder cancer, lymphoma and melanoma, the first line of therapy is the Immunotherapy
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Roche 's Press Day, held in Cali from July 3 to 5, treated, as it does every important health problems for the Latin American community.
Breast cancer, ALS and hemophilia. In particular, the importance of multisectoral collaboration to overcome barriers to access to health in the region has been addressed through various activities focused on cancer.
Ricardo H. Álvarez, oncologist mentioned above, was among the invited specialists. Daniel Ciriano, Medical Director of Roche Latin America; César Garrido, board member of the World Federation of Hemophilia; Dr. Rolando Camacho, oncologist and international expert in the fight against cancer, adviser of the International Unit of fight against cancer (UICC), and Ramiro Guerrero, director of PROESA (Centers of studies in social and economic protection health). 19659002] Activities included a dynamic panel discussion presented by the EFE News Agency, which included financial institutions, NGOs, academic experts and government officials from Cali.
In the case of Colombia, the barriers Oncology in terms of access to the first specialized appointment, treatment and appropriate drugs remain the fundamental concern of the experts.
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