For Whom the Cell Tolls: Emerging and Established Cancer Biology

Welcome back! It's been a while. I'm excited to get going again with an episode on the emerging science of "ecotyping" the cells around tumors - the microenvironment. Ecology and Evolution of lymphoma tumors is only half the story. We needed to know more about the state of cells around the tumor. How do they affect the surrounding immune cells? Do they support the tumor? We examine the worst possible scenario: when very little remains except for tumor and support cells. What are the consequences for immune-specific therapies like CAR-T cells? Hopefully this episode provides a good intro to our new tools to measure the TME and how it can further advance precision cancer medicine. I hope that you enjoy!

Steen: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34597589/

Katlov: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33541860/

What do you think? Would the immensely powerful amount of data be a game-changer for medicine? Or does DNA sequencing miss too much of the picture to be worth the cost? This question is an example why we need leaders that understand Biology as genomics becomes hyper-accessible. I do my best to discuss the primary Pros and Cons of each side, along with possible modifications to the proposal. Enjoy!

This episode covers how gene therapy may emerge as a critical tool for medicine as we seek to treat the previously untreatable. Can we ADD genes to specific cells to help humans overcome fated genetic ailments? Why has this process challenged us in the past? And lastly, who is going to pay for all these expensive viral delivery systems? Join to take a first look at how medicine and genetics can change the future.

This episode covers the basics of how a cancer begins. Genetic mutations can often knock out genes responsible for keeping an eye on how many cell divisions are allowed. Once these are out of the way, aggressive growth genes can overcome them and cause initial tumor populations to form. After further successive survival advantages are gained, tumors eventually break free from their original organ/tissue and wreak havoc. Learning how to address the initial and final stages of cancer are key towards better clinical outcomes for all patients.

Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cells (CAR-T) represent one of the most profound and exciting advances in modern medicine and science. Many lymphoma patients fail therapy after therapy with little recourse. CAR-T aimed to stop that. Taking immune T-cells from the patient, engineering them to target cancer cells, and re-releasing them into the patient would’ve sounded crazy 20 years ago. Thanks to modern technology, science, and clinical practice we’ve created something powerful. The CAR-T enter patients and attack the tumor, but a massive immune reaction can induce massive side effects. This episode explores some of the exciting news, future possibilities, and ethical challenges of CAR-T use for lymphoma treatments. I hope you enjoy!

We live in an age where social media provides a platform for everything - good and bad. I wanted to summarize how ideas can be spread, weaponized, and distorted, much like a disease. We also briefly go over the differences between ideas and beliefs. The episode takes a look at how stem cell clinics offer hope through social media without a solid foundation of biology with which to apply their therapies (that nobody knows how to control or stop from hurting people). Cancer can be an unfortunate consequence of visiting one of these clinics. We can reflect on how easy it would be for trusted health professionals to turn to social media to market "Miracle Cancer Cures", taking advantage of anyone looking for hope. The same hope that cancer patients need to fight their disease is poisoned by willfully ignorant endeavors like these. Learning how to harness science, logic, ideas, and human emotion is a key to overcoming the aggressive advance of non-well-meaning products. Emotion trumps logic in the courts of social media, and health professionals need to be ready to confront these challenges from the same perspective (or a dual one) instead of relying on scientific findings alone. Facts can convince you, but emotion can make you believe.

This is an exciting and quick episode that mainly covers the findings of a recent Daniel D. Carvalho paper in Nature Reviews called “Epigenetic therapy in immune oncology” where the authors elaborate on new mechanisms of cancer treatments. Essentially, the epigenetic Cancer therapies that cause genes to reprogram the “on/off” state also awaken ancient relic viruses that lie dormant in our DNA, which subsequently leads to a massive immune response against the tumor. These mechanisms may play a role in treating aggressive forms of the disease that usually evade the immune system. Enjoy!

Domestication is a very interesting process and was first performed millions of years ago. The relationships between humans and dogs is of particular interest, as are the genetic and developmental changes that make them possible. We also delve into controversy and how the process of tameness selection brings along more than what’s expected. Enjoy, and go hug your dog or cat!

Today’s episode is the first one that is primarily driven by literature and philosophy, namely borrowing themes explored in Frankenstein and Paradise Lost. Victor Frankenstein’s fraught relationship with his creature is a devastatingly emotional purview into what life is. The influence from Paradise Lost and our subsequent relationship with a creator initiates a powerful dialogue worth exploring. General aspects of being creative are also introduced, and human control of life and healthcare conclude the episode. Either way you look at it, advances are mounting without as much central appreciation or critique. It’s a discussion I’d encourage you examine. Enjoy!

Today’s episode covers the basics of evolution so that we can address a case of extreme survival in some of the smallest organisms to exist: yeast! Cancer evolution makes appearances as well, including new mechanisms of tumor evasion that can develop when we treat cancer with different therapies. Stories of how organisms put everything on the line to defy their environment and survive are what Biology so fascinating. Plus, who doesn’t love using the word hypermutation repeatedly? Also, feel free to add any content you want to see covered or questions you want to explore. Engaging new ideas is always exciting. I hope you enjoy! 

Note: The yeast hypermutation strategy is latch ditch for a reason: it's a one in a million shot to work. Luckily, yeast exist in colonies of tens of millions, so when faced with species survival or death they are engineered to make the gamble.

The days of chemo-only cancer treatment ended years ago. This episode introduces 20 diverse therapies that scientists and clinicians are turning to in the face of ever-evolving tumors. This is an especially exiting episode, as I believe there is so much hope on the horizon for treating these diseases, and it’s exciting to share that feeling. Enjoy!

The power of immune system is on full display every day of our lives and has been throughout our history. As pathogens try to enter our bodies and hurt us, the immune system rises up to fight and counter new disease mechanisms that it encounters. This episode will touch on the debate over remaining smallpox samples, innate and adaptive immunity, and autoimmunity. I hope you enjoy, and please let me know if I need to clarify anything. As a B-Cell scientist I’m always a bit over-excited by these concepts. My students often need to slow me down. I hope you enjoy!

Internal human ecosystems? Transmissible personality traits? Tune in for the best episode yet where we get you up to speed on the human microbiome, a collection of thousands of partner bacterial species that live inside and on us. Our microbiome species have co-evolved to keep our gut, immune system, and even mind healthy. The emerging consequences of disrupting this ecosystem will also come up, along with ways to keep things good. This episode is highly inspired by Alanna Cole's 10% Human. Enjoy!

Cancer is more than cells that proliferate and survive like mad; it's a lethal combination of Genetics and Evolution. They also rely on parasitizing resources and evading immune system predators. Cancer evolution represents the greatest challenge for scientists and clinicians, as tumors can do almost anything to survive. Listen to this episode for a glimpse inside the tumor microenvironment and how we have to combat Evolution itself to win.

Hello! My name is Keenan, and I’m a professor at Minnesota State University Mankato and a cancer scientist. I also love going over the amazing stories that Biology has to share, and hopefully these podcasts make it enjoyable to hear some of them on a time budget. Today’s episode is introductory, covering what I do, cancer, the definition of life, and how philosophy plays a huge role in science. Cancer and the definition of life can be heavy topics, but I hope that you enjoy it!