When does chemotherapy-induced apoptosis occur? - 1259120

aschweig
Posts:25

Dear GRACE community --

I was wondering about this question and even tried to research it to no conclusive avail.

When does apoptosis occur following chemotherapy?

I know that it does not occur at one instant in time. I imagine there is a background rate of apoptosis, and that following a course of chemotherapy, this rate is temporarily enhanced for cancer cells (and other cells too.)
I know that each individual and tumor is different. I don't mind heterogeneity in the data -- I am looking for coarse estimates.

I did find following references,

In Vivo Detection of Apoptosis

Temporal and Spatial Evolution of Therapy-Induced Tumor Apoptosis Detected by Caspase-3–Selective Molecular Imaging

I also reasoned that apoptosis might track with leukopenia following chemotherapy -- however, my understanding is leukopenia may occur at much longer time scales, and also may be imperfect correlate in the presence of myelosuppression.

What is known about the time-evolution of apoptosis following chemotherapy?

Thanks,

aschweig

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Dr West
Posts: 4735

Honestly, I don't have an answer, and I don't think there is one. I don't think there's any way to know this in actual patients, and I don't think anyone knows this. It's certainly not a question a clinical oncologist would know, because we deal with the practical aspects of patient management. The issues of when apoptosis occurs is a question on a microscopic rather than macroscopic level.

Perhaps I can ask why you think this is a critical question for actual cancer care in patients?

-Dr. West

aschweig
Posts: 25

Well.. the answer to your question Dr. West is this: my mother-in-law is really excited about taking vitamin C to "help" her situation. I've advised her not to -- because as an anti-oxidant it will reduce oxidative stress. So I was looking for a time-share solution. Could she safely take vitamin C during week 2 of her chemo cycle? I know the official answer is "no" -- but if one had a detailed enough picture of the underlying effects of chemo.. maybe a compromise could be reached.

Dr West
Posts: 4735

I think such a question would require so many inferences that I wouldn't feel at all comfortable in using it as the basis for a treatment recommendation. I suppose the fact that almost every actual expert in cancer is against vitamin C (particularly IV infusions) doesn't make a difference.

-Dr. West