Early detection of cancer vital, says visiting prof
Most important is the early detection of cancer ... Prevention is always better than a cure... the battle against cancer will continue - Professor Mohamed Mabruk, a visiting professor in molecular virology
Thursday, March 20, 2008
CANCER has been a common cause of death in Brunei, at least for the past three years, said Dr Hj Muhammad Syafiq Abdullah, head of medical services of Ripas (Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha) hospital as well as a specialist and consultant oncologist, during a lecture on the Molecular Pathogenesis of Cancer, which took place yesterday evening at the Chancellor Hall, UBD (Universiti Brunei Darussalam).
The lecture conducted by Professor Mohamed Mabruk, a visiting professor in molecular virology to the Institute of Medicine, UBD, aimed to introduce the Bruneian community to the importance of understanding the pathogenesis of cancer on a molecular level and the advancements in technology which have been developed to combat the disease.
Professor Mabruk defined the term cancer as an abnormal growth of cells which tend to proliferate in an uncontrolled manner. The main problems associated with cancer cells were their characteristic behaviour of continuous reproduction of cells, which cause the imbalance between cell births and cell deaths.
Cancer cells were found to be more resistant to programmed cell death, or apoptosis, usually, due to the presence of a mutated gene which protected the cancer cells from destruction. The conversion of cancer cells from normal cells were caused by genomic instabilities found in the cells. These instabilities included factors such as DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) mutation, deletion and amplification of chromosomes, anomalies in gene arrangements, or translocation.
It had been researched that an estimated five to seven independent mutations could lead to the development of cancer, but only if these mutations were present in key genes.
The target genes which were liable to these mutations leading to cancer, included tumour suppressor genes, proto-oncogenes, and DNA repair genes.
Usually, repair genes get rid of any section of DNA that might have been mismatched, otherwise known as microsatellite instability, during the DNA replication stage.
However, if the repair gene has undergone mutation, the mismatched section of DNA does not get disposed of, thus resulting in abnormalities within the cell.
"Most important is the early detection of cancer, an important stage in the fight against cancer," stated Professor Mabruk.
He presented several molecular techniques used today in the early detection of the disease, such as the detection of APC gene mutations in fecal samples as one of the early signs of colon cancer and he also introduced tissue isolation techniques using micro-laser technology, which could be used to extract abnormal cells in the early stages of cancer.
"Prevention is always better than a cure... the battle against cancer will continue," said Professor Mabruk stressing the importance of detecting the disease from early on.
There were also talks on plans of setting up a small lab in Brunei, devoted to cancer research and called for the joint cooperation between the molecular virology professor, UBD and the Ministry of Health.
The Brunei Times
The lecture conducted by Professor Mohamed Mabruk, a visiting professor in molecular virology to the Institute of Medicine, UBD, aimed to introduce the Bruneian community to the importance of understanding the pathogenesis of cancer on a molecular level and the advancements in technology which have been developed to combat the disease.
Professor Mabruk defined the term cancer as an abnormal growth of cells which tend to proliferate in an uncontrolled manner. The main problems associated with cancer cells were their characteristic behaviour of continuous reproduction of cells, which cause the imbalance between cell births and cell deaths.
Cancer cells were found to be more resistant to programmed cell death, or apoptosis, usually, due to the presence of a mutated gene which protected the cancer cells from destruction. The conversion of cancer cells from normal cells were caused by genomic instabilities found in the cells. These instabilities included factors such as DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) mutation, deletion and amplification of chromosomes, anomalies in gene arrangements, or translocation.
It had been researched that an estimated five to seven independent mutations could lead to the development of cancer, but only if these mutations were present in key genes.
The target genes which were liable to these mutations leading to cancer, included tumour suppressor genes, proto-oncogenes, and DNA repair genes.
Usually, repair genes get rid of any section of DNA that might have been mismatched, otherwise known as microsatellite instability, during the DNA replication stage.
However, if the repair gene has undergone mutation, the mismatched section of DNA does not get disposed of, thus resulting in abnormalities within the cell.
"Most important is the early detection of cancer, an important stage in the fight against cancer," stated Professor Mabruk.
He presented several molecular techniques used today in the early detection of the disease, such as the detection of APC gene mutations in fecal samples as one of the early signs of colon cancer and he also introduced tissue isolation techniques using micro-laser technology, which could be used to extract abnormal cells in the early stages of cancer.
"Prevention is always better than a cure... the battle against cancer will continue," said Professor Mabruk stressing the importance of detecting the disease from early on.
There were also talks on plans of setting up a small lab in Brunei, devoted to cancer research and called for the joint cooperation between the molecular virology professor, UBD and the Ministry of Health.
The Brunei Times
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