About Us
The ONCOS.org perspective
The apparent lack of success in curing cancer that is evidenced in the last four decades of molecular medicine indicates a need for a global re-thinking, both in its nature and the biological approaches that we are taking in its solution. The reductionist, one gene/one protein method that has served us well until now, and that still dominates in biomedicine, requires complementation with a more systemic/holistic approach, to address the huge problem of cross-talk between more than 20,000 protein-coding genes, about 100,000 protein types, and the multiple layers of biological organisation. The elucidation of such a relationship between the chromatin network requires a non-linear thermodynamics approach to biological systems1.
By the rules of the non-linear thermodynamics and the aggressive radio-chemotherapy inducing reprogramming associated with reversible polyploidy and genome instability, paradoxically favours the opposite to the aimed effect—it is the creation, selection, and survival of residual resistant clones and, therefore, is generally without an overall therapeutic outcome2. These systemic approaches are still in their infancy for the therapeutic application, although the theoretical background of cell fate reversion is already established by many different studies comprising a coherent picture3.
We are at a new epoch in cancer treatment and are already gathering research, case histories, more complex biological, phytochemical and a rational integrative approach. Remember, medical science is based upon accepted outcomes. In a new bottom-up way of seeing, we need to acknowledge what works on a larger, less pathological approach. Science is no more than seeing what works and seeing how that can be repeated/reproduced. There are many, many approached to cancer research. This organisation seeks to open these approaches to include the non-linear, system’s thinking and to accept a degree of experimentation i.e. experience and intuition.
References
1. Resolution of Complex Issues in Genome Regulation and Cancer Requires Non-Linear and Network-Based Thermodynamics. Int J Mol Sci. 2019 Dec 29;21(1):240. doi: 10.3390/ijms21010240.
2. Non-genetic cancer cell plasticity and therapy-induced stemness in tumour relapse: “What does not kill me strengthens me” Br. J. Cancer. 2015;112:1725–1732. doi: 10.1038/bjc.2015.146.
3. Complex gene regulatory networks–from Structure to Biological Observables: Cell fate determination gene regulation. Comput. Complex. 2012:527–560