Cancer Treatment Research

OLAPARIB is a new class of anti-cancer drug that is known as a PARP inhibitor, a drug designed to fight breast, ovarian, and prostate cancers or cancers that arise as a result of BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations.

Developers of OLAPARIB

OLAPARIB was developed by KuDOS Pharmaceuticals, a biotechnological company from the United Kingdom. KuDOS Pharmaceuticals has been a wholly owned subsidiary of AstraZeneca since 2006.

What OLAPARIB can offer cancer patients

Although still in clinical testing stages, OLAPARIB is expected to halt the repair of cells by the PARP protein. As a result of halted repairs, cancer cells start to die. However, normal cells which have BRCA repair can still be repaired and so will remain healthy.

What patients can expect from OLAPARIB

Patients can expect milder side effects from OLAPARIB compared to other chemotherapy drugs. These include nausea, somnolence, fatigue, loss of appetite, and thrombocytopenia. They can also expect to remain healthier because the drug only targets cancerous cells and tends to spare normal and healthy cells.

Cancer foundations have done a lot in helping further the research on the cure for the various types of cancers. They are also instrumental in educating the public about cancer prevention, early detection, and treatment. Cancer foundations are some of the organizations where patients and other people affected by the disease can turn to for support.

Susan G Komen for the Cure

Susan G Komen for the Cure has been actively funding research grants since 1982. It has been active in community outreach projects that focuses on education and early detection of the disease, especially in underserved locations.

Breastcancerfund.org

This is a foundation dedicated to the identification and elimination of environmental and other causes of breast cancer.

CancerCare.org

This is a non-profit organization that offers professional help and support to those suffering from cancer and other people affected by cancer such as the bereaved, children, parents, siblings of cancer patients, and caregivers. Help offered include counseling, financial support, education, and as well as practical assistance.

Fruits have long been studied in the hopes that they can be used in the treatment of cancer. Mangosteen is among these fruits because it contains xanthones, plant phenols that have a number of health benefits.

What are xanthones?

Xanthones are biologically active plant phenols that are believed to be beneficial in enhancing the body’s immune system. Mangosteen contains about two dozen xanthones, and about half-a-dozen xanthones in the fruit are being studied for its anti-cancer properties.

Mangosteen's xanthones as treatments against cancer

A few of the xanthones found in the fruit include alpha-Mangostin, beta-Mangostin, 3-Isomangostin, Gertanin, Garcinone A, B, C, D, E, and Maclurin, and Mangostanol. Several studies claim that these are responsible for the fruit’s anti-leukemic, anti-fungal, and anti-tumor properties.

What the scientific community says about xanthones

While mangosteen may have beneficial effects with regard to cancer treatment, actual scientific trials have not given any conclusion as to the effectiveness of the fruit as a treatment for cancer. Doctors advise that eating the fruit should be considered a complimentary form of treatment to accompany more conventional methods of fighting cancer.