癌症治疗新手段

28 癌症治疗新手段

DATE=5-29-01
TITLE=SCIENCE IN THE NEWS #2126 - New Cancer Treatments
BYLINE=Nancy Steinbach

VOICE ONE:
This is Doug Johnson.
VOICE TWO:
And this is Sarah Long with Science in the News, a VOA Special English program about recent developments in science. Today we tell about new treatments for cancer. And we tell about new research with stem cells to treat other diseases. 
((THEME))
VOICE ONE:
26,000 cancer experts met recently in San Francisco, California to discuss the latest research against the deadly disease.  They attended the yearly meeting of the American Society of （1）Clinical (2) Oncology. Oncology is the medical science that deals with the treatment of （3）cancer. Many of the researchers presented the results of their work.  Their research could change the way cancer is treated.
Medical researchers say cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States and most other industrial countries, after heart disease.   But cancer is not just one disease.  It is a group of more than 200 diseases caused by a series of changed (4) genes².  These genes make cells reproduce out of control.  This creates a growth called a (5) tumor³. Doctors usually treat cancer with an operation to remove the tumor.  This is followed by （6）radiation and chemotherapy drugs that destroy both cancerous and healthy cells.
Medical researchers say they are testing more than four- hundred experimental drugs to treat many different kinds of cancer.   These treatments attack cancer at the genetic⁴ level.  The new drugs block the chemical actions that cause normal cells to become cancerous.  The （7）experimental drugs appear to reduce or at least delay the growth of many kinds of cancer cells without damaging normal （8）tissue.
VOICE TWO:
One of these experimental drugs is called C-two-two-five.  It reduced the size of colon⁵ cancer tumors in about twenty-two percent of the people tested when used with （9）chemotherapy drugs. The patients involved in the study had cancer that had spread to other organs and had failed to improve using other treatments. 
A larger study of the drug will begin soon.  It will test C-two-two-five in patients with colon cancer that has not yet spread to other organs.  More studies will see if the drug can treat people suffering from other kinds of cancers.
 Another new drug is called Tarceva.  It showed activity against cancerous tumors of the head, neck, （10）ovaries and lungs.  A drug called Iressa showed good results in a study last year against lung cancer.
All these drugs are among a new group known as (11) epidermal⁶ growth factor receptor blockers.  The drugs interfere⁷ with the chemical activity that controls the lives of cells.  The drugs attach to （12）receptors on cells and block them from receiving messages that direct them to divide and become cancerous.  Doctors say treatments that can successfully block these messages may someday change cancer from a killer⁸ into a disease that can be controlled for years.
VOICE ONE:
Earlier this month, the United States Food and Drug Administration approved one of these drugs.  It was approved to treat one kind of （13）leukemia, or cancer of the blood.  It is called Gleevec. Scientists at the clinical oncology meeting reported that Gleevec has also shown good results treating a rare kind of intestinal⁹ cancer. It improved the conditions of about sixty percent of almost 200 people tested.  Gleevec has been shown to reduce the size of cancerous tumors by blocking cellular¹⁰ messages that cause a cancer to increase.  Another such signal blocker already in use is the drug Herceptin.  It reduces the size of （14）breast cancer tumors. 
VOICE TWO:
These new drugs reduce the size of （15）cancerous tumors. They do not make them disappear.  Most of the drugs have been tested on only a small number of patients. Researchers say the drugs have fewer harmful effects on the body than traditional chemotherapy drugs.  They also say that the experimental drugs can be used along with chemotherapy and radiation treatments.
Researchers say the new drugs can increase the effectiveness of these traditional cancer treatments. Studies show that the new drugs (16) interfere with the ability of tumor cells to recover from the effects of chemotherapy or radiation. 
Experts say more tests are needed before the experimental drugs can be proven safe and effective. However, most researchers say the drugs could be approved for use in the next few years.
VOICE ONE:
Other researchers at the clinical oncology meeting reported results of studies about a new medicine for men with severe (17) prostate cancer.  A drug called Atrasentan slowed the progression of cancer in men for whom no other drugs have been successful. In one study, the drug reduced the spread of the cancer into the bones.  Another study showed that the drug lengthened¹¹ the time before the sickest men felt pain in their bones.  The researchers said they would expect the drug to have an increased effect if used before the cancer has spread. 
VOICE TWO:
Still other scientists at the clinical oncology meeting reported about vaccines¹² made from the cells of a cancer patient. These (18) vaccines also have been shown to stop or reduce the growth of cancerous tumors. Sometimes the tumors completely disappeared.
These vaccines trick the body's defense¹³ system into attacking and destroying the damaged cells responsible for cancer.  Studies have shown good results in people suffering lung and colorectal cancers. These studies are small, however. Researchers say more studies are needed before this kind of treatment can be used. 
 VOICE ONE:
The medical researchers at the clinical oncology meeting say much more work needs to be done before cancer can be cured. For example, they still do not know how long the new treatments will continue to delay the growth of cancerous tumors.  They also do not know if the cancers will develop (19) resistance to the drugs. 
Some researchers say it will be difficult to cure the most common cancers.  This is because these cancers have five or more genetic targets. They say a drug must be developed against each (20) abnormal gene¹ and used correctly together to be effective against the disease.  Still, medical experts say the success of this new research has given them hope that attacking the genetic cause of cancer may cure the disease in the future.
((MUSIC BRIDGE))
VOICE TWO:
Two new American studies report major progress in stem cell research. Stem cells can develop into other kinds of cells and tissues.  Scientists believe stem cells could become extremely important in the treatment of disease and injury.
Scientists at the National Institutes of Health near Washington, D-C carried out one of the studies.  They took stem cells from unborn mice.  The scientists then forced these (21) embryonic¹⁵ stem cells to develop into several kinds of cells found in the organ called the (22) pancreas. The cells then formed structures very similar to the pancreatic structures that produce insulin. Insulin is an important (23) hormone¹⁶ that controls sugar levels in the blood.  People whose bodies do not produce enough insulin have the disease (24) diabetes¹⁷.
The N-I-H scientists say the laboratory versions of the pancreatic structures acted like the real ones.  They released insulin in the presence of sugar. The scientists injected the structures into diabetic mice. The treatment did not cure the mice of diabetes.  But the scientists say the mice lived longer than they would have without the treatment. 
VOICE ONE:
Scientists at Rockefeller University and Sloan-Kettering Institute in New York carried out the other study. The Rockefeller University researchers took a cell from a mouse-tail and removed the genetic material. The researchers then removed the genetic material from a mouse egg. They put the genetic material from the skin cell into the mouse egg. In a few days an embryo¹⁴ began to form. Stem cells from embryos¹⁸ can develop into all kinds of cells and tissues.
The Sloan-Kettering scientists forced the mouse embryonic stem cells to develop into brain cells that produce the chemical (25) dopamine. These are the brain cells that are damaged in people with Parkinson's disease. Now the Rockefeller University scientists plan to test the laboratory-made brain cells in mice that have Parkinson's disease.
((THEME))
VOICE TWO:
This SCIENCE IN THE NEWS program was written by Nancy Steinbach and Caty Weaver¹⁹. It was produced by George Grow.  This is Sarah Long.
VOICE ONE:
And this is Doug Johnson.  Join us again next week for more news about science in Special English on the Voice of America.

注释：
(1)  clinical[ 5klinikEl ]adj.临床的, 病房用的
(2) oncology[ CN5kClEdVi, Cn- ]n.肿瘤学
(3) cancer[ 5kAnsE ]n.癌, 毒瘤
(4) gene[ dVi:n ]n.[遗传]因子, [遗传]基因
(5) tumor[ 5tju:mE ]n.瘤
(6) radiation[ 7reidi5eiFEn ]n.发散, 发光
(7) experimental[ eks7peri5mentl ]adj.实验的, 根据实验的
(8) tissue[ 5tisju: ]n.薄的纱织品, 薄纸, 棉纸
(9) chemotherapy[ 7kemEu5WerEpi ]n.化学疗法
(10) ovary[ 5EuvEri ]n.(生物)卵巢, (植物)子房
(11) epidermal[9epI`d:mEl]adj.[解][生]表皮的,外皮的
(12) receptor[ ri5septE ]n.接受器, 感受器, 受体
(13) leukemia[ lju:5ki:miE ]n.白血病
(14) breast[ brest ]n.胸部, 乳房, 胸怀, 心情v.以胸对着, 对付
(15) cancerous[`kAnsErEs]adj.癌的
(16) interfere[ 7intE5fiE ]vi.干涉, 干预
(17) prostate[ 5prCsteit ]adj.前列腺的n.前列腺
(18) vaccine[ 5vAksi:n ]adj.疫苗的, 牛痘的n.疫苗
(19) resistance[ ri5zistEns ]n.反抗, 抵抗
(20) abnormal[ Ab5nC:mEl ]adj.反常的, 变态的
(21) embryonic[ 7embri5Cnik ]adj.[生]胚胎的, 开始的
(22) pancreas[ 5pAnkriEs, 5pAN- ]n.[解]胰腺
(23) hormone[ 5hC:mEun ]n.荷尔蒙, 激素
(24) diabetes[ 7daiE5bi:ti:z, -ti:s ]n.[医] 糖尿病, 多尿症
(25) dopamine[ 5dEupE7mi:n ]n.多巴胺(一种治脑神经病的药物)

 

1 gene   

n.遗传因子，基因

参考例句：

• A single gene may have many effects.单一基因可能具有很多种效应。
• The targeting of gene therapy has been paid close attention.其中基因治疗的靶向性是值得密切关注的问题之一。

2 genes   

n.基因( gene的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• You have good genes from your parents, so you should live a long time. 你从父母那儿获得优良的基因，所以能够活得很长。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Differences will help to reveal the functions of the genes. 它们间的差异将会帮助我们揭开基因多种功能。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 生物技术的世纪

3 tumor   

n.（肿）瘤，肿块(英)tumour

参考例句：

• He was died of a malignant tumor.他死于恶性肿瘤。
• The surgeons irradiated the tumor.外科医生用X射线照射那个肿瘤。

4 genetic   

adj.遗传的，遗传学的

参考例句：

• It's very difficult to treat genetic diseases.遗传性疾病治疗起来很困难。
• Each daughter cell can receive a full complement of the genetic information.每个子细胞可以收到遗传信息的一个完全补偿物。

5 colon   

n.冒号，结肠，直肠

参考例句：

• Here,too,the colon must be followed by a dash.这里也是一样，应当在冒号后加破折号。
• The colon is the locus of a large concentration of bacteria.结肠是大浓度的细菌所在地。

6 epidermal   

adj. [解][生]表皮的，外皮的

参考例句：

• Epidermal growth factor is a single-chain peptide with 53 amino-acid residue. 表皮生长因子(epidermal growth factor EGF)是最初从小鼠的下颌下腺提取的一种含有53个氨基酸残基的单链多肽。
• Telia are dark brown or black, and shine from the intact host epidermal covering. 冬孢子堆呈暗褐色或黑色，覆盖在完整的寄生表皮下显得发亮。

7 interfere   

v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰

参考例句：

• If we interfere, it may do more harm than good.如果我们干预的话，可能弊多利少。
• When others interfere in the affair,it always makes troubles. 别人一卷入这一事件，棘手的事情就来了。

8 killer   

n.杀人者，杀人犯，杀手，屠杀者

参考例句：

• Heart attacks have become Britain's No.1 killer disease.心脏病已成为英国的头号致命疾病。
• The bulk of the evidence points to him as her killer.大量证据证明是他杀死她的。

9 intestinal   

adj.肠的；肠壁；肠道细菌

参考例句：

• A few other conditions are in high intestinal obstruction. 其它少数情况是高位肠梗阻。 来自辞典例句
• This complication has occasionally occurred following the use of intestinal antiseptics. 这种并发症偶而发生在使用肠道抗菌剂上。 来自辞典例句

10 cellular   

adj.移动的；细胞的，由细胞组成的

参考例句：

• She has a cellular telephone in her car.她的汽车里有一部无线通讯电话机。
• Many people use cellular materials as sensitive elements in hygrometers.很多人用蜂窝状的材料作为测量温度的传感元件。

11 lengthened   

（时间或空间）延长，伸长( lengthen的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The afternoon shadows lengthened. 下午影子渐渐变长了。
• He wanted to have his coat lengthened a bit. 他要把上衣放长一些。

12 vaccines   

疫苗，痘苗( vaccine的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His team are at the forefront of scientific research into vaccines. 他的小组处于疫苗科研的最前沿。
• The vaccines were kept cool in refrigerators. 疫苗放在冰箱中冷藏。

13 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

14 embryo   

n.胚胎，萌芽的事物

参考例句：

• They are engaging in an embryo research.他们正在进行一项胚胎研究。
• The project was barely in embryo.该计划只是个雏形。

15 embryonic   

adj.胚胎的

参考例句：

• It is still in an embryonic stage.它还处于萌芽阶段。
• The plan,as yet,only exists in embryonic form.这个计划迄今为止还只是在酝酿之中。

16 hormone   

n.荷尔蒙，激素，内分泌

参考例句：

• Hormone implants are used as growth boosters.激素植入物被用作生长辅助剂。
• This hormone interacts closely with other hormones in the body.这种荷尔蒙与体內其他荷尔蒙紧密地相互作用。

17 diabetes   

n.糖尿病

参考例句：

• In case of diabetes, physicians advise against the use of sugar.对于糖尿病患者，医生告诫他们不要吃糖。
• Diabetes is caused by a fault in the insulin production of the body.糖尿病是由体內胰岛素分泌失调引起的。

18 embryos   

n.晶胚；胚，胚胎( embryo的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Somatic cells of angiosperms enter a regenerative phase and behave like embryos. 被子植物体细胞进入一个生殖阶段，而且其行为象胚。 来自辞典例句
• Evolution can explain why human embryos look like gilled fishes. 进化论能够解释为什么人类的胚胎看起来象除去了内脏的鱼一样。 来自辞典例句

19 weaver   

n.织布工；编织者

参考例句：

• She was a fast weaver and the cloth was very good.她织布织得很快，而且布的质量很好。
• The eager weaver did not notice my confusion.热心的纺织工人没有注意到我的狼狈相。