Countering tumor or cancer takes a different tack. A free radical like nitric oxide (NO) inflicts disease differently from that how a virus does. Nitric oxide is a product of reactions (on L-arginine) catalyzed by three enzymes: endothelium nitric oxide synthase(eNOS) produces one; neuron nitric oxide (nNOS) produces another; inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) produces still another. Each has specific functions. NO of eNOS is a messenger that signals the endothelium to dilate and allow the flow of more blood (the same as done by nitroglycerin given during an episode of angina pectoris). NO from eNOS is beneficial. NO mediated by the macrophage, a component of the immune system, is used by the macrophage to shoot virus (Cranton, E. MD and A. Brecher. Bypassing Bypass. 1984). It kills the virus or bacteria and also strikes healthy cells in their vicinity inflicting damage to their membranes or DNA. That can result in inflammation or mutation or scar or stenosis as happens in the initiation of rheumatic heart (triggered by the bacteria Streptococcus pyogenes). So, a free radical could serve as a messenger and as a grabber of electrons. Inflammation is evidence of damage done by free radicals. NO produced by iNOS is countered by antioxidants to mitigate the preponderance of free radicals. A free radical has a charge that can be neutralized by a charge from the electron of hydrogen atom that comes from antioxidants. That's how an antioxidant does battle against a free radical. The rogue in cancer is a free radical. Now we cannot escape from free radicals. It is a matter of balance between free radicals and antioxidants. Our body has built-in antioxidants like superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase. These can be supplemented by vitamin B complex, A, C, D and coenzyme coQ10. Infusion chelation therapy also counters free radicals. EDTA (ethylene diamine tetra acetate) has a negative charge that can neutralize free radicals, and remove and bind with minerals like iron and copper in whose presence during a reaction produce hydroxyl radical and alkoxy radical. NO produced by eNOS can also be caught by antioxidants that is why angina occurs; or NO is not produced because an artery injured and with a plaque does not produce NO which is released by the inner wall of a normal artery.
The best approach against tumor and cancer is prevention that can be done with antioxidants. Cancer is also amenable to treatment during early stages (likely to be effective in stages I and II).
Heritable colon cancer can be prevented, and halted. The gene involved is adenomatosus polyposis colitis (APC). The first mutation happens during meiosis. The next mutations occur in the mitotic cells of the sibling. One who inherited APC has thousands of polyps in the intestine. But 5 to 7 mutations more must occur in one mitotic cell before a full-blown colon cancer develops. Counters before each mutation can be mounted. The last mutation is the mutation of both alleles of p53 gene that serves as a switch in mitosis. Once both alleles had been mutated, development of colon cancer cannot be stopped. p53 blocks the mitosis (uncontrolled growth) of the one cell that had sustained the 5 mutations in genes k-ras, DCA, etc). Colonoscopy can catch a mutating polyp early on that is still in the adenoma stage. A polyp that sustains a mutation in k-ras gene turns into adenoma, a name applied to stages up until p53 genes had been mutated when colon cancer now arises. Immunotherapy works against cancer; it kills cancer cells only. Chemotherapy produces a lot of free radicals that destroy both cancer cells and healthy cells in the vicinity that is why it could create another disease. It destroys the bone marrow that is why bone marrow transplant is part of a protocol involving adriamycin. Before administration, part of the bone marrow is taken, preserved and transplanted back to the same patient once chemotherapy sessions had been completed.
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