 |
|
Virginia Tech researcher examining malignant melanoma in horses
February 01, 2006Malignant melanoma is a dangerous, aggressive form of cancer and approximately 54,000 new cases are diagnosed every year, according to the American Cancer Society. Interestingly, there are many similarities between malignant melanoma in horses and malignant melanoma in people.
Recognizing the extraordinary opportunity for translational research that the disease represents, Dr. John L. Robertson, a professor in the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech and director of the college's Center for Comparative Oncology (CECO), has been looking at one experimental treatment.
During a presentation before a regional meeting of the American Cancer Society in Roanoke, Va., Robertson detailed some of the work he is doing with the use of Frankincense oil as a possible treatment for malignant melanoma in horses.
The risk factors for malignant melanoma in people and horses are very similar, according to Robertson. In people, risk factors include pale complexion and hair, exposure to excessive sunlight and sunburns and aging. Horses at risk also have a pale coat of grey to white and there seems to be a correlation to aging, which could be a result of chronic exposure to sunlight, he said. In each, the disease is an infiltrated pigmented malignancy that is difficult to manage. Conventional therapies include chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, and surgery.
The disease often affects horses with the development of lesions on the lips, neck, and perineal area.
Robertson presented the story of Chili, a handsome, 11-year old Thoroughbred and champion jumper that was diagnosed with multi-centric malignant melanoma at the age of seven. Told by her local practitioner that there was not much that could be done for Chili and aware of Robertson's interest in evaluating an experimental therapy, Chili's owner asked if Robertson would work with Chili.
That experimental therapy involved the use of frankincense oil, a compound known as a valuable treatment for wounds for more than 2,000 years, and one people are reminded of every Christmas when they recall the Gifts of the Magi brought to the Christ-child.
Frankincense oil is a fragrant botanical oil distillate made from fermented plants, explains Robertson, who adds that it contains hundreds of constituents, including boswellic acid, a component that is known to have anti-neoplastic properties. Scientists have demonstrated that the oil has potent anti-inflammatory effects and anti-tumor properties when evaluated in tissue culture with tumors such as astrocytomas, melanomas, and fibrosarcomas. Furthermore, he said, it appears to have fairly selective anti-tumor activity and does not appear to disrupt normal cells. But much about how it affects actual cancer patients is unknown.
Chili's experimental protocol involved daily injections of medicinal grade, sterile frankincense oil directly into his tumors and the application of oil on topical tumors, while Chili's comfort and well-being was carefully maintained through pain and nutritional management, including copious amounts of his favorite peeled baby carrots and peppermints.
The lesions were observed, measured, photographed, and periodically biopsied, according to Robertson. Those tumor biopsies demonstrated that some small tumor cells were destroyed by the treatment and those treated topically were reduced in size. Unfortunately, however, Chili passed away on October 18, 2005 as a result of the progressive and relentless growth of the non-treated tumors.
Chili's involvement with CeCO and the experimental protocol did result in some important achievements, according to Robertson.
"I think this research on frankincense oil suggests that this ancient medicine may have significant modern uses for chemotherapy of non-resectable malignancies," said Robertson, a professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology. "This research showed that equine melanomas respond to this therapy."
Information gleaned from this Phase I-II National Cancer Institute format clinical trial has supported the development of grant applications and helped in the treatment of five additional horses, Robertson said. A collaboration with the Clinical Research Program at Wake Forest University's Comprehensive Cancer Center is being discussed.
Virginia Tech
The risk factors for malignant melanoma in people and horses are very similar, according to Robertson. In people, risk factors include pale complexion and hair, exposure to excessive sunlight and sunburns and aging. Horses at risk also have a pale coat of grey to white and there seems to be a correlation to aging, which could be a result of chronic exposure to sunlight, he said. In each, the disease is an infiltrated pigmented malignancy that is difficult to manage. Conventional therapies include chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, and surgery.
The disease often affects horses with the development of lesions on the lips, neck, and perineal area.
Robertson presented the story of Chili, a handsome, 11-year old Thoroughbred and champion jumper that was diagnosed with multi-centric malignant melanoma at the age of seven. Told by her local practitioner that there was not much that could be done for Chili and aware of Robertson's interest in evaluating an experimental therapy, Chili's owner asked if Robertson would work with Chili.
That experimental therapy involved the use of frankincense oil, a compound known as a valuable treatment for wounds for more than 2,000 years, and one people are reminded of every Christmas when they recall the Gifts of the Magi brought to the Christ-child.
Frankincense oil is a fragrant botanical oil distillate made from fermented plants, explains Robertson, who adds that it contains hundreds of constituents, including boswellic acid, a component that is known to have anti-neoplastic properties. Scientists have demonstrated that the oil has potent anti-inflammatory effects and anti-tumor properties when evaluated in tissue culture with tumors such as astrocytomas, melanomas, and fibrosarcomas. Furthermore, he said, it appears to have fairly selective anti-tumor activity and does not appear to disrupt normal cells. But much about how it affects actual cancer patients is unknown.
Chili's experimental protocol involved daily injections of medicinal grade, sterile frankincense oil directly into his tumors and the application of oil on topical tumors, while Chili's comfort and well-being was carefully maintained through pain and nutritional management, including copious amounts of his favorite peeled baby carrots and peppermints.
The lesions were observed, measured, photographed, and periodically biopsied, according to Robertson. Those tumor biopsies demonstrated that some small tumor cells were destroyed by the treatment and those treated topically were reduced in size. Unfortunately, however, Chili passed away on October 18, 2005 as a result of the progressive and relentless growth of the non-treated tumors.
Chili's involvement with CeCO and the experimental protocol did result in some important achievements, according to Robertson.
"I think this research on frankincense oil suggests that this ancient medicine may have significant modern uses for chemotherapy of non-resectable malignancies," said Robertson, a professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology. "This research showed that equine melanomas respond to this therapy."
Information gleaned from this Phase I-II National Cancer Institute format clinical trial has supported the development of grant applications and helped in the treatment of five additional horses, Robertson said. A collaboration with the Clinical Research Program at Wake Forest University's Comprehensive Cancer Center is being discussed.
Virginia Tech
Malignant Melanoma Current Events and Malignant Melanoma News RSSSocial class dictates cancer risk
Cervical and lung cancer are more common in poor people while rates of breast cancer and melanoma are higher in the wealthy.
NYU researchers demonstrate activity of mebendazole in metastatic melanoma
Researchers at the NYU Cancer Institute and the Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology have identified mebendazole, a drug used globally to treat parasitic infections, as a novel investigational agent for the treatment of chemotherapy-resistant malignant melanoma.
Does too much sun cause melanoma?
We are continuously bombarded with messages about the dangers of too much sun and the increased risk of melanoma (the less common and deadliest form of skin cancer), but are these dangers real, or is staying out of the sun causing us more harm than good?
Combination therapy packs 1-2 punch against melanoma
Disabling a protein frequently found in melanoma tumors may make the cancer more vulnerable to chemotherapy, according to a pilot study led by researchers in the Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Targeted therapy plus chemotherapy may pack 1-2 punch against melanoma
By targeting and disabling a protein frequently found in melanoma tumors, doctors may be able to make the cancer more vulnerable to chemotherapy, according to a new study by researchers in the Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Teenage girls aren't the only ones who tan indoors -- older adults do so as well
Think you won't run into grandparents at your local tanning salon? According to new research, you just might. In fact, a recent health survey of American adults suggests that while 20 percent of 18-39 year olds visited tanning beds, as many as 10 percent of those between 50 and 64 years of age and eight percent of those older than 65 tanned indoors.
Melanomas may appear noticeably different than other moles
A preliminary study suggests that melanomas have a different appearance than other irregular skin moles (i.e., are "ugly ducklings"), according to a report in the January issue of Archives of Dermatology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
More sun exposure may be good for some people
A new study by scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory and colleagues in Norway suggests that the benefits of moderately increased exposure to sunlight - namely the production of vitamin D, which protects against the lethal effects of many forms of cancer and other diseases - may outweigh the risk of developing skin cancer in populations deficient in vitamin D.
Gene variation may elevate risk of liver tumor in patients with cirrhosis
A particular gene variation appears to significantly increase the risk that individuals with cirrhosis of the liver will go on to develop hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a liver tumor that is the third leading cause of cancer death.
Overweight and obesity cause 6,000 cancers a year in UK women
The study shows that overweight and obese women in the UK are at a higher risk of developing and dying from cancer. In fact, the researchers estimate that 5% of all cancers (about 6,000 annually) are attributable to being overweight or obese.
More Malignant Melanoma Current Events and Malignant Melanoma News Articles
 | Pocket Guide to Malignant Melanoma by John Buchan, Dafydd Roberts The ability to diagnose melanomas and ensure that they are properly and swiftly treated can save lives.The latter part of this century has witnessed a rise in the incidence of this life-threatening form of skin cancer, which is linked to sun exposure. Public health campaigns have begun to raise awareness of the problem and people are now seeking medical advice about pigmented lesions. The reader... |
 | Pathology of Melanocytic Nevi and Malignant Melanoma Highly acclaimed and considered the leading reference in the field, Pathology of Melanocytic Nevi and Malignant Melanoma has now been fully revised and updated to accomodate rapid advances in the field of melanoma pathology. Drs. Michael Piepkorn and Klaus Busam have now joined Dr. Barnhill, world-renowned expert in dermatology and pathology, to expand the text with new sections on the genetics... |
| Malignant melanoma of the skin and mucous membrane by Gerald W Milton | |
| Basic and Clinical Aspects of Malignant Melanoma (Cancer Treatment and Research) | |
 | Pathology of Malignant Melanoma by Raymond L. Barnhill An excerpt from "Pathology of Melanocytic Nevi and Malignant Melanoma, Second Edition", Pathology of Malignant Melanoma provides a highly practical approach to the histopathological diagnosis of melanoma of the skin. Emphasis is placed on the differential diagnosis of major forms of conventional melanoma, and the book also discusses unusual or rare variants that are difficult to recognize. This... |
 | Pathology of Melanocytic Nevi and Malignant Melanoma by Raymond L./ Piepkorn, Michael (EDT)/ Busam, Klaus J., M.D. (EDT)/ Barnhill, Raymond L. (EDT)/ Busam, Klaus J., M.D./ Piepkorn, Michael Barnhill |
| Cutaneous malignancies: BCC, SCC, and MM.(Dermatology Nursing Essentials: Core Knowledge)(Basal cell carcinoma)(Squamous cell carcinoma)(Malignant melanoma ): An article from: Dermatology Nursing by Nancy Vargo This digital document is an article from Dermatology Nursing, published by Thomson Gale on April 1, 2006. The length of the article is 690 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.Citation DetailsTitle: Cutaneous... | |
| Diagnosis and Management of Cutaneous Malignant Melanoma (Major Problems in Clinical Surgery) by Daniel Roses | |
| Malignant Melanoma and Melanocytic by Leboit | |
| Malignant melanoma |
| © 2008 BrightSurf.com |