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
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
Reply # - September 9, 2013, 06:07 PM
Reply To: When does chemotherapy-induced apoptosis occur?
Hi aschweig, I've ask Dr. West to respond to your post. You should hear back within the evening.
All best,
Janine
Reply # - September 9, 2013, 06:30 PM
Reply To: When does chemotherapy-induced apoptosis occur?
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
Reply # - September 9, 2013, 07:51 PM
Reply To: When does chemotherapy-induced apoptosis occur?
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.
Reply # - September 9, 2013, 09:06 PM
Reply To: When does chemotherapy-induced apoptosis occur?
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