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Editorial Volume 2 Issue 6
Can the hypothesized “erythrocyte associated necrosis factor” be applied to the prevention of metastases?
Wilson Onuigbo
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Department of Pathology, Medical Foundation and Clinic, Nigeria
Correspondence: Wilson Onuigbo, Department of Pathology, Medical Foundation and Clinic, 8 Nsukka Lane, Enugu 400001, Nigeria, Tel 2.35E+12
Received: July 17, 2015 | Published: July 20, 2015
Citation: Onuigbo W. Can the hypothesized “erythrocyte associated necrosis factor” be applied to the prevention of metastases? J Cancer Prev Curr Res. 2015;2(6):188-189. DOI: 10.15406/jcpcr.2015.02.00062
Abstract
The thoracic duct has been relevant to research from the 1798 days of Sir Astley Cooper. A recent development is that lung cancer cells being transported in it exhibited necrosis when commingled with erythrocytes. This natural phenomenon has been attributed to a Factor named personally as the “Erythrocyte Associated Necrosis Factor” (EANF). Therefore, it is hypothesized that, in these days of the awakening of Translational Medicine, its researches may help to prevent successful deposition and growth of cancer cells.
Keywords: Thoracic duct; Lung cancer cells; Erythrocytes; Necrosis factor; Prevention; Pharmaceutics
Introduction
As far back as 1798, the astute Sir Astley Cooper1 speculated that the thoracic duct must play an important role in the “human economy.” Recently, it so happened that this 45 cm long channel was obtained personally in one whole.2 Following the serendipitous Swiss-roll method of coiling it, the panoramic appearance of cancer cells being transported along it at the moment of death was striking.3 Moreover, the phenomenon of necrosis of these cells, when commingled with erythrocytes, stood out to be recognized as it were. Little wonder that the underlying natural necrosis phenomenon was attributed to a Factor named personally as the “Erythrocyte Associated Necrosis Factor” (EANF).4
Translational medicine
In this context, can Translational Medicine, which now blazes trails in cancer research,5 and is much boosted financially,6 be involved in cancer destruction? Now, consider a salient view. Cheever et al.,7 were hopeful that “These findings reflect the current status of the cancer vaccine field, highlight the possibility that additional organized efforts and funding would accelerate the development of therapeutically effective cancer vaccines and accentuate the need for prioritization.” However, prioritization should go beyond vaccines. In the words of Mazzocca & Carloni,8 “the future pharmacological challenge will be to combine drugs that target different aspects of the multistep metastatic process.” As I see it, the footsteps of Nature in the microenvironment of the thoracic duct, namely, the striking necrosis of cancer cells when commingled with red cells, should be painstakingly studied.9 In particular, since the new technique of intravital video microscopy10 can be used to view both lively and necrotic cancer cells, the retrieval of these two scientific subsets cannot but aid in future replication exercises aimed at cancer cure. Little wonder that mankind has for centuries sought the drug cure of cancer.11,12 Today, we ought to grapple scientifically with the above necrotic pabulum which is readily available in the thoracic ducts of consenting patients.13 Therefore, what are the prospects?
In the words of Sleeman and Steeg,14 “Effective translational research is urgently required, yet is not always easy to achieve.” In like manner, Okumura et al.,15 opined that “In recent years, a substantial research effort has aimed at developing new anticancer therapies with maximal effects and minimal adverse effects.”
Consequently, let me turn to hypotheses. First, in a Lancet 1963 paper,16 I argued that the fate of the circulating cancer cells is linked with their necrosis in the blood stream. Secondly, necrosis so strongly featured in the thoracic duct that what I named as EANF was brought in as an indicator of the footsteps of Nature. Therefore, its serious scrutiny should include the exploitation of chemotherapy. In fact, in the opinion of Poste,17 “Cancer therapy and chemotherapy in particular, is entering a critical period.”
Conclusion
Concerning such a critical period, let the EANF angle be brought to bear on the prevailing problem of target therapy. Indeed, let me suggest that it should be experimented along the lines of the promisingly positive researches in the field of pharmaceutical science invention.
Acknowledgements
None.
Conflicts of interest
The authors have no financial conflicts of interest to declare.
Funding
None.
References
- Cooper A. Medical records and researches, selected from the papers of a private medical association. London, T. Cox, UK; 1798. 86 p.
- Onuigbo WI. A mono–block formalin–fixation method for investigating cancer metastasis. Z Krebsforsch. 1963;65:209–210.
- Onuigbo WI. The carriage of cancer cells by the thoracic duct. Br J Cancer. 1967;21(3):496–500.
- Onuigbo WI. Nature’s necrosis factor when associated with erythrocytes may not only explain the surprises in lung cancer metastasis but also suggest target therapy. Med Hypotheses. 2013;80(6):698–700.
- Puggal MA, Schully SD, Srinivas PR, et al. Translation of genetics research to clinical medicine the national heart, lung, and blood institute perspective. Circ Cardiovasc Genet. 2013;6(6):634–639.
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- Cheever MA1, Allison JP, Ferris AS, et al. The Prioritization of cancer antigens: A national cancer institute pilot project for the acceleration of translational research. Clin Cancer Res. 2009;15(17):5323–5337.
- Mazzocca A, Carloni V. The metastatic process: methodological advances and pharmacological challenges. Curr Med Chem. 2009;16(14):1704–1717.
- Onuigbo WI. Is there a natural translational system suitable for the target therapy of lung cancer? Trans Med. 2014;4:2.
- MacDonald IC, Chambers AF. Breast cancer metastasis progression as revealed by intravital videomicroscopy. Expert Rev anticancer Ther. 2006;6(9):1271–1279.
- Onuigbo WI. Historical horizons of drug dispensing in cancer cases with hopeful hypothesis on cancer cure. J Coll Med. 2009;14:1–5.
- Onuigbo WI. Human models in cancer metastasis research, LAP LAMBERT Academic Publishing GmbH & Co. KG, Saarbrucken, Germany; 2011.
- Onuigbo WI. The scientific significance of the role of the thoracic duct in cancer cell carriage:A review. Single Cell Biology. 2014;3:1
- Sleeman J, Steeg P. Cancer metastasis as a therapeutic target. Euro J Cancer. 2010;46:1177–1180.
- Okumura N, Yoshida H, Kitagishi Y. Against lung cancer cells:To be, or not to be, that is the problem. Lung Cancer Int. 2012.
- Onuigbo WI. An index of the fate of the circulating cancer cells. Lancet. 1963;2(7312):828–831.
- Poste G. Pathogenesis of metastatic disease:Implications for current therapy and for the development of new therapeutic strategies. Cancer Treatment Rep. 1986;70(1):183–199.
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