What Is A Tumor?
Summary
TLDRThis video discusses the nature of tumors, explaining that not all tumors are cancerous. It differentiates between benign and malignant tumors and explores various tumor types, including adenomas, fibroids, carcinomas, and sarcomas. It highlights the challenges of treatments like chemotherapy and radiation and introduces emerging approaches, such as using reengineered polio and scorpion venom to target tumors. While these experimental methods are promising, caution is advised, as more research is needed. The video ends with a call to participate in the Zero Waste challenge.
Takeaways
- đĄ Not all tumors are cancerous; some are benign and don't spread, while malignant ones can spread and become cancerous.
- đ§ Tumor names are based on where they grow, such as adenomas from epithelial tissue, fibroids on connective tissue, and hemangiomas from excess blood cells.
- đ Carcinomas form in epithelial cells, sarcomas in connective tissues, leukemia in bone marrow, and blastomas from embryonic cells.
- 𧏠Tumors form due to DNA mutations caused by environmental factors like radiation or tobacco smoke, leading to uncontrolled cell division.
- đŹ Stem cells may trigger tumors, with cancer stem cells being resistant to treatments like chemotherapy, which often leaves them behind.
- đ Chemotherapy, derived from mustard gas, halts cell growth but comes with severe side effects like hair loss, fatigue, and immune system suppression.
- đ Radiation therapy targets tumors by damaging their DNA, though some cells may survive, similar to the challenges faced with surgery.
- đ A new experimental treatment uses a reengineered polio virus to weaken brain tumors, helping the immune system attack them.
- đŠ Another novel approach involves injecting scorpion venom (Tumor Paint) to light up brain tumors, helping surgeons differentiate between tumor and healthy tissue.
- đ§ Despite promising treatments, researchers stress the need for more studies to ensure effectiveness and safety before widespread use.
Q & A
What is the common misconception about tumors?
-Most people think tumors are always cancerous, but that's not always the case. There are both benign (non-cancerous) and malignant (cancerous) tumors.
What are the two main types of tumors?
-The two main types of tumors are benign, which do not spread or change, and malignant, which are cancerous and can spread to other parts of the body.
How are tumors generally named?
-Tumors are often named based on the tissue where they grow. For example, adenomas come from epithelial tissue, and fibroids grow in fibrous or connective tissue.
What are some examples of benign tumors?
-Examples of benign tumors include adenomas, fibroids (e.g., fibroma durum, which are skin tags), and hemangiomas, which are collections of blood cells that often occur in childhood.
What is the difference between carcinomas and sarcomas?
-Carcinomas are cancerous tumors found in epithelial cells, while sarcomas begin in connective tissue such as cartilage and bones.
What are some factors that can lead to tumor development?
-Tumors may result from a DNA mutation caused by radiation, tobacco smoke, environmental factors, or even random chance. These mutations can make cells divide uncontrollably, forming tumors.
What challenges do cancer stem cells present in treatment?
-Cancer stem cells resist treatments like chemotherapy and can cause tumors to return stronger, as chemotherapy often only wipes out differentiated cells, leaving the stem cells behind.
What are some common side effects of chemotherapy?
-Common side effects of chemotherapy include hair loss, fatigue, nausea, and a weakened immune system because it targets rapidly dividing cells, including healthy ones.
What new experimental treatment uses polio to combat tumors?
-Researchers at Duke University have reengineered the polio virus to attack brain tumors, allowing the immune system to destroy the cancerous cells.
What is Tumor Paint, and how does it work?
-Tumor Paint, developed by researchers from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, uses scorpion venom to bind to brain tumor cells. It lights up under fluorescent light, helping surgeons distinguish between tumor cells and healthy brain tissue.
Outlines
đ€ Understanding Tumors: Not All Are Cancerous
The video starts by clarifying that while many associate tumors with cancer, not all tumors are malignant. Tumors, also known as neoplasms, are classified into benign (non-cancerous) and malignant (cancerous). Various tumor types are named based on where they grow, such as adenomas from epithelial tissue and fibroids from connective tissue. Benign tumors like fibroma durum (hard fibroma) and hemangiomas, which are common in childhood, are harmless, while cancerous ones like carcinomas, sarcomas, leukemia, and blastomas develop in different tissues.
đŹ Tumors and DNA Mutations: The Role of Stem Cells
Tumors often result from uncontrolled cell growth due to DNA mutations, which may occur because of environmental factors like radiation or tobacco smoke, or even by chance. These mutations cause cells to replicate uncontrollably, potentially leading to the spread of cancer. Another theory suggests that faulty stem cells may be responsible for tumor growth. Cancer stem cells can resist treatments like chemotherapy, making them difficult to eradicate and enabling tumors to return stronger.
đ Chemotherapy: The Harsh Fight Against Cancer
Chemotherapy, a brutal treatment derived from mustard gas, has been used to stop the rapid growth of cancer cells. While effective in halting cell division, it also harms fast-growing healthy cells, such as those in hair follicles, leading to side effects like hair loss, fatigue, nausea, and a weakened immune system. Despite advancements in drugs, chemotherapy remains a challenging process for patients.
đ Radiation Therapy: A Precision Approach with Limitations
Radiation therapy is another method used to combat tumors by damaging their DNA. While less immediately harmful, it can cause side effects like sunburn and has the potential for more serious long-term consequences. Radiation therapy, like surgery, isn't always 100% effective, as some cancerous cells might be left behind, leading to the persistence or recurrence of the disease.
đ§Ș New Ideas: Polio Virus and Scorpion Venom in Cancer Treatment
Exciting new approaches to cancer treatment are emerging. Researchers at Duke University are exploring the use of a reengineered polio virus to help the immune system attack brain tumors, a novel way of giving cancer cells their own 'disease.' Meanwhile, scientists at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center are working with scorpion venom, which targets brain tumors. This 'Tumor Paint' lights up under fluorescent light, allowing surgeons to precisely locate and remove cancerous tissue.
đ§ Caution with New Treatments: Research Continues
Despite promising new treatments, the video advises caution. While breakthroughs like polio virus therapy and scorpion venom have potential, it's important to remain skeptical until further research is conducted. Many 'cure for cancer' headlines come and go, so the emphasis is on the need for more research before definitive conclusions can be made. The segment closes with a reminder to participate in the #Zerowaste challenge to reduce personal waste and promote sustainability.
Mindmap
Keywords
đĄTumor
đĄBenign
đĄMalignant
đĄMetastasis
đĄChemotherapy
đĄRadiation
đĄCarcinoma
đĄSarcoma
đĄLeukemia
đĄPolio virus treatment
Highlights
Most people associate tumors with cancer, but not all tumors are cancerous.
There are two main types of tumors: benign (non-cancerous) and malignant (cancerous).
Benign tumors do not spread and usually remain as they are, while malignant tumors can metastasize and spread to other parts of the body.
Tumors are often named after the tissue they grow in, such as adenomas (epithelial tissue) and fibroids (fibrous or connective tissue).
Fibroma durum (hard fibroma) are common skin tags found on the neck or armpits.
Hemangiomas, commonly seen as strawberry birthmarks, are collections of excess blood cells.
Cancerous tumors include carcinomas (in epithelial cells), sarcomas (in connective tissue like cartilage and bones), and leukemia (originating in bone marrow).
Mutations in DNA can cause uncontrolled cell growth, leading to tumor formation.
Chemotherapy is a harsh treatment derived from mustard gas, but it stops cell growth, which is crucial in cancer treatment.
Side effects of chemotherapy include hair loss, fatigue, nausea, and immune system suppression.
Radiation therapy can stop tumor growth by damaging its DNA, but it may leave behind some cancerous cells.
Researchers at Duke University are exploring the use of polio virus to treat brain tumors by weakening the tumor's defenses.
Scientists from Seattle are testing 'Tumor Paint,' made from scorpion venom, to make brain tumors glow and aid surgeons.
'Tumor Paint' consists of two components: venom to bind to tumor cells and a fluorescent dye to make tumors visible.
While experimental treatments like polio virus and Tumor Paint are promising, more research is needed before they can become standard care.
Transcripts
Hey guys julia here for DNews
Most people when they hear the word tumor think CANCER but thatâs not always the case.
There are a lot of different types of tumors, or neoplasms as theyâre called by medical
professionals.
The two main types, benign, which means it stays as it is, and doesnât change and malignant,
which signals something bad, like cancer, which means it can spread.
Thereâs a lot of tumor terminology.
Names of tumors most often come from where they grow.
Like Adenomas come from epithelial tissue, which is a thin layer or membrane that surrounds
your organs.
Fibroids grow on fibrous or connective tissue.
Fibroma durum (hard fibroma) is a common type, theyâre those skin tags you get on your
neck or armpit.
Hemangiomas are more like those strawberry birthmarks, they are just a collection of
too many blood cells in one place.
These are often temporary and last just a few years in childhood.
Those are just the benign tumors.
Carcinomas are cancerous tumors found in epithelial cells.
Sarcomas start off in connective tissue, such as cartilage and bones.
Leukemia originates in the marrow and generally mature in the blood or lymph nodes and Blastomas
form from embryonic tissue.
While they all go by different names, many tumors come from an overgrowth of tissues,
maybe caused by a mistake in DNA.
DNA might be damaged from radiation, tobacco smoke or other environmental agents, or maybe
itâs just a stroke of luck.
Whatever causes it, this mutation makes the cell divide uncontrollably, basically making
clones of themselves.
As the cells pile up, a tumor grows.
If it grows big enough it can harm nearby organs and tissues or sometimes a part of
the tumor can break off and take up residence in other parts of the body, which is when
cancer metastasizes.
Thereâs another idea, that stem cells trigger tumors.
These wonky stem cells drive tumor growth and just like normal stem cells can give rise
to differentiated cells.
These stem cells are especially good at resisting treatment like chemotherapy.
Chemotherapy might wipe out those differentiated cells, but leave the cancer stem cells behind,
so they come back stronger and in greater numbers.
And I mean chemotherapy is a brutal process, the first chemotherapy drugs were a derivative
of mustard gas..
But it does have the nifty ability to stop cell growth.
Which is handy when dealing with runaway cell growth.
But it can also harm other type of cells that grow a lot, like hair follicles.
While modern drugs work in other ways, theyâre still pretty nasty.
With the usual side effects of hair loss, fatigue, nausea, and a knocking out of the
immune system.
Another way we attack tumor cells is through radiation, where radiation beams are aimed
at a tumor and stop its growth by damaging DNA.
While the immediate side effects are minimal, it might feel like a sunburn.
Other long-term effects might be more damaging.
And radiation isnât 100% effective.
Some tumor cells could get left behind, which is a problem with surgery too.
Some of these treatments are nasty and painful and seem to leave the job unfinished.
So why havenât we come up with anything better?
Well thereâve been some cool new ideas put forward recently.
Researchers from Duke University are looking to treat tumors WITH POLIO.
Polio, a horrible virus, used to run rampant and kill thousands of people a year and paralyze
thousands more until the introduction of a vaccine in 1955.
Youâd think the world would never want to see the disease again.
Yet over the past few decades scientists have reengineered the virus which seems to knock
out a brain tumorâs defenses, allowing the patientâs immune system to finish the job.
GIVE THE DISEASE DISEASESâŠ
WHOA.
Another new idea might make surgery a little easier.
Some researchers from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle propose injecting
people with scorpion venom.
Alright, sounds crazy I know, but bear with me.
The venom is injected into the patient's blood stream, crosses the blood-brain barrier, and
makes its way into the brain tumor.
Tumor Paint, as itâs appropriately called consists of two parts.
Scorpion venom has to find itâs way to the preyâs brain to paralyze it.
Turns out that same compound binds really well the surface of brain tumor cells.
The other part of Tumor Paint lights up under fluorescent light.
This could be huge.
That way brain surgeons can see the tumor literally glowing and see where the tumor
stops and the healthy brain tissue starts.
But with any kind of new experimental treatment, itâs best to be cautious.
Very cautious.
We hear the term CURE FOR CANCER in the news a lot, and sometimes we never hear another
word about those treatments again.
Itâs okay to be optimistic and skeptical at the same time.
AND REMEMBER: say it with me nowâŠ
MORE RESEARCH IS NEEDED.
Can you go one whole day without producing trash?
Take the #Zerowaste challenge this Tuesday, April 14th and share your experience with
Seeker!
Go to the first link in the description to find out more.
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