The discovery of the founding member of a chemical family by scientists from St Jude Children's Research Hospital could herald the development of a new class of cancer drugs specifically against a childhood tumour.
A research team led by scientists from the organisation believes it has identified the chemical, which is the first small-molecule inhibitor to target the MDMX protein implicated in promoting a variety of cancers.
The childhood eye tumor retinoblastoma, as well as certain cases of breast, lung, prostate and other cancers, can occur if there is an abundance of MDMX, according to the researchers, whose work is in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.
'We went from a discovery in childhood cancer, MDMX amplification, to characterising this first inhibitor in about three-and one-half years,' explained the paper's senior author Michael Dyer, a developmental neurobiology specialist.
MDMX and its sister protein MDM2 can be responsible for tumour progression by binding and suppressing a protein called p53, which helps to induce death in normal cells.
According to Cancer Research UK, Childhood cancer is much less common than adult cancer, with about 1,700 cases of annual diagnosis in children under 15.
Methadone is a type of medicine called an opioid.
Opioids are painkillers such as codeine, morphine and diamorphine (heroin) that work by mimicking the action of naturally occurring pain-reducing chemicals called endorphins. Endorphins are found in the brain and spinal cord and reduce pain by combining with opioid receptors. However, opioids also act in the brain to produce a 'high' (feelings of euphoria) and hallucinations. They can be both physically and phsychologically addictive and people taking them long-term can become dependent on them.
Methadone is an opioid that is used mainly to wean people off their addiction to stronger opioids such as diamorphine (heroin). It is prescribed as a substitute for such drugs. By acting on the same opioid receptors as other opioids, methadone prevents the physical withdrawal symptoms that occur when these drugs are stopped. This prevents physical cravings for the drug. Over time, the dose of methadone is gradually reduced until it can be stopped completely.
Methadone is itself physically addictive, but is less psychologically addictive than heroin because it does not produce the same 'high' or sense of euphoria. This makes it easier to gradually reduce the methadone dose until no physical dependence remains.
Methadone substitution therapy for opioid addiction must be used in combination with other medical, social and psychological treatment.
Methadone, being an opioid, is also sometimes prescribed for the relief of moderate to severe pain.
Methadone can also be used to suppress dry cough in people with terminal illnesses such as lung cancer. Coughing is a reflex response to irritation of the airways. Methadone may be used to block the cough reflex in situations where the cough serves no purpose (eg dry persistent cough due to lung irritation in lung cancer). It suppresses cough by decreasing nerve messages from the brain that cause cough.
This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy.If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.
Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.
Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Just because a side effect is stated here does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.
The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the medicine's manufacturer.For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.
It is important to tell your doctor or pharmacist what medicines you are already taking, including those bought without a prescription and herbal medicines, before you start treatment with this medicine. Similarly, check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any new medicines while taking this one, to ensure that the combination is safe.
Methadone should not be taken by people who have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) in the last 14 days. MAOIs include the antidepressants phenelzine, isocarboxazid, tranylcypromine and moclobemide.
There may be an increased risk of side effects such as drowsiness, sedation, low blood pressure and slow, shallow breathing that can potentially be fatal, if this medicine is used with other medicines that have a sedative effect on the central nervous system. These include the following, which should be avoided while taking this medicine:
The following medicines may increase the blood level of methadone and thus increase the risk of its side effects:
The following medicines may reduce the blood level of methadone and so could cause withdrawal symptoms if given to someone dependent on methadone:
The following medicines oppose the effects of methadone and can cause withdrawal symptoms if given to someone dependent on methadone:
Methadone slows down activity in the gut and could oppose the effect of domperidone or metoclopramide, which work by increasing muscle contractions in the gut.
There may be an increased risk of abnormal heartbeats (seen on an ECG as a 'prolonged QT interval') if methadone is taken in combination with other medicines that can also potentially cause this problem, such as the following:
There may also be an increased risk of abnormal heartbeats if methadone is taken in combination with medicines that can cause disturbances in the levels of electrolytes (eg potassium and magnesium) in the blood, for example diuretics (water tablets).
Why is it so hard to quit smoking
I have been trying for years to give up smoking
Why am I finding it so hard to give up when I'm so determined to quit
You started smoking at a very young (age 11) but it is great to see that
you are determined to stop already
Smoking is an addiction. The drug is nicotine and it is as bad an addiction as any other drug
You need willpower for sure and you need the support of those around you
It is particularly difficult to stop when smoking is part of what everyone does when you are
out together
There are no short cuts, but nicotine patches do help you to get over the addiction phase while you crack the habit and the social pressures
If you haven't tried the patches yet I'd recommend them
Yours sincerely
Dr Bob Leckridge, GP