Childhood and Adult Cancers

leukemias and lymphomas are found in adults, as well as, in children. Cancer metastasis t in adults, as well as, in children. There are several differences between childhood and adult cancers. In terms of prevalence, childhood cancers are less common than cancers in adults (Peter & Dervan, 1999). Secondly, childhood cancers are diagnosed at an advanced stage, unlike adult cancers that are diagnosable at the earliest stages. Thirdly, the risk factors for cancer in adults are linked to lifestyle, unlike in children. In adults, cancers are a result of sedentary lifestyles, alcohol abuse and poor diet, among other causes. In children, most of the cancers are of unknown origin. Even though some cancers occur in both adults and children, some types of cancers occur predominantly in children (Peter & Dervan, 1999). Lastly, cancer prognosis is different in adults, as compared to children. Over the past years, success in the treatment of cancer has been better in children than in adults. An example is bone cancer.

Angiogenesis assists tumor growth through the angiogenic switch enables the tumor to develop and metastasize. Invasion, on the other hand, allows the tumor cells to disrupt the nearby tissues and the normal cellular barriers. This promotes the spread of tumor cells.

Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies is advantageous, especially when compared with other cancer therapies. For example, monoclonal antibodies have wer side effects. They also have the advantage of homogeneity. All the monoclonal antibodies represent with the product of a single hybridoma. This is economical in the treatment of a cancer patient.

On the other hand, monoclonal antibodies have some disadvantages. The affinity of monoclonal antibodies is lower, compared to polyclonal antibodies. Secondly, the monoclonal antibodies may not produce the desired biologic responses. The other disadvantage of monoclonal antibodies is that, they may lose reactivity when targeted to antigens that have been perturbed. Further, the monoclonal antibodies produce unrelated cross reactions when directed to unrelated antigens.

Over-expression of proto-oncogenes, as well as, under-expression of tumor suppressor genes promote the proliferation of abnormal cells. Proto-oncogenes assist in the proliferation of abnormal cells by allowing them to make the angiogenic switch in the process of angiogenesis. An example is vascular endothelial growth factor, which aids angiogenesis. Inhibition through anti-vascular endothelial growth factors can be used to suppress the growth of the tumor. Similarly, under-expression of tumor suppressor genes slows down the activation of cellular oncogenes. Since cancer cells proliferate through cell division, under-expression of tumor suppressor genes prevents proliferation of abnormal cells reducing the rate of cell division.

Reference

Peter, A., &Dervan, M. D. (1999).Understanding Cancer: A Scientific and Clinical Guide for the Layperson.Jefferson, NC: McFarland Books.