Hi Dr. Landolfi;
Here is the next question from the group. First though, I want to pass on the sincere "thanks" expressed by many of the group members for your assistance.
"What enables the tumor cells to grow when they shouldn't? Is DNA messed up? Is the "growth signal" not turned off? Is there a measurable chemistry in the body, or other cells which are "abnormal" in tumor patients, such as elevated levels of copper in the blood, or increased levels of inflammation, etc? Essentially, are there any markers of ependymoma aside from the tumor itself in the body, and could any of these be an avenue to attack the disease?
Thank you (as always)
Bruce
The doctor's response...
TUMORS GROW BECAUSE OF REGULATION PROBLEMS. SOME GENES ARE TURNED OFF, OTHERS TURNED ON WHICH ALLOWS TISSUE TO GROW ABNORMALY TO BECOME TUMORS. WHAT PROMPTS THE INITIATING EVENT IS UNKNOWN. THERE ARE NO ABNORMALITIES IN THE BLOOD THAT CAN BE MONITORED AS A MARKER. THE COPPER IS DONE BY NUTRITIONISTS BUT IS NOT A MARKER. IT HAS BEEN FOUND THAT THERE IS INCREASED COPPER IN SOME GLIOMA TUMORS. SOME SPECULATE THAT THIS MUST MEAN COPPER IS CAUSING OR FEEDING THE TUMOR AND NUTRITIONISTS HAVE TOLD PATIENTS TO DECREASE THEIR INTAKE OF COPPER. FURTHER PUBLISHED DATA SUGGESTS THE COPPER IS DETRIMENTAL TO THE TUMOR WITH OUR OWN BODY LIPIDS PROTECTING THE TUMOR. I DO NOT SUGGEST INCREASING BODY COPPER AS THIS WOULD CAUSE OTHER PROBLEMS. THERE ARE SOME MARKERS FOR CERTAIN TUMORS BUT NOT FOR EPENDYMOMA.
Dr. Landolfi