Reply
Wed 7 Dec, 2011 01:25 am
I understand the sentence "In the same way that intermittent use of antibiotics gives a chance for bacteria that are resistant to the drug to take over, you might actually end up with intermittent anti-androgen therapy even more positively selecting for mutating cancer cells" as:
"In the same way that intermittent use of antibiotics gives a chance for bacteria (that are resistant to the drug) to come back, you might actually finally have to use intermittent anti-androgen therapy (the therapy even more actively taggets causing the mutation of cancer cells)."
Am I on the right track?
Context:
The math model developed by Ohio State scientists suggests that based on average clinical data currently available, such intermittent therapy could actually accelerate the development of castration resistance.
"In the same way that intermittent use of antibiotics gives a chance for bacteria that are resistant to the drug to take over, you might actually end up with intermittent anti-androgen therapy even more positively selecting for mutating cancer cells," Jain said.“
However, the averages don't always apply, which is why the scientists are pursuing a system of differential equations to account for individual differences. For example, the "normal" levels of prostate-specific antigen, or PSA, in men's blood cover a fairly broad range, Jain noted. Yet the PSA test remains the most common screening method for prostate cancer, and is used to gauge the effectiveness of treatments in advanced stages, as well.
@oristarA,
"In the same way that intermittent use of antibiotics gives a chance for bacteria that are resistant to the drug to take over, intermittent anti-androgen therapy might give a chance for mutating cancer cells to proliferate"
In cases using the therapy intermittently (antibiotic or anti-androgen) has the opposite effect to that which is desired.
@contrex,
contrex wrote:
"In the same way that intermittent use of antibiotics gives a chance for bacteria that are resistant to the drug to take over, intermittent anti-androgen therapy might give a chance for mutating cancer cells to proliferate"
In cases using the therapy intermittently (antibiotic or anti-androgen) has the opposite effect to that which is desired.
Cool!
What does "positively selecting" mean?
@oristarA,
oristarA wrote:
What does "positively selecting" mean?
Making the situation more favourable for