DOCSLIB.ORG

The Devil Undone: the Science and Politics of Tasmanian Devil Facial

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Devil Undone: the Science and Politics of Tasmanian Devil Facial University of Wollongong Research Online University of Wollongong Thesis Collection University of Wollongong Thesis Collections 2013 The evD il Undone: the science and politics of Tasmanian Devil facial tumour disease Josephine Veronica Warren University of Wollongong, [email protected] Recommended Citation Warren, Josephine Veronica, The eD vil Undone: the science and politics of Tasmanian Devil facial tumour disease, Doctor of Philosophy thesis, School of Social Sciences, Media and Communication, University of Wollongong, 2013. http://ro.uow.edu.au/ theses/4182 Research Online is the open access institutional repository for the University of Wollongong. For further information contact the UOW Library: [email protected] The Devil Undone: The Science and Politics of Tasmanian Devil Facial Tumour Disease Josephine Veronica Warren BA (Hons) University of Wollongong School of Social Sciences, Media and Communication 20 December 2013 This thesis is presented for the degree of Doctorate of Philosophy Abstract The Tasmanian devil is a carnivorous marsupial endemic to the island state of Tasmania, part of the larger continent of Australia, threatened with extinction from a deadly cancer. The research into the cancer, termed Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD), followed a pathway that supported the hypothesis that the cancer was transmissible, passed from devil to devil by biting, called an allograft. By adopting a political sociological approach, I analyse the scientific research into the devil cancer through the concept of undone science, which I expand by developing a typology of reasons, both practical and political, for deficits of knowledge. My analysis initially finds that scientific evidence has not been established to confirm the transmission of the cancer by biting. The devil cancer research has also failed to produce convincing support for the precedent of a dog transmissible cancer. Whilst allograft research was pursued, the competing hypothesis that chemicals used in plantation forestry might have contributed to the disease was neglected. There were many calls for further toxicology studies but to date these have not been undertaken. Due to the devils’ listing as endangered under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and the scientific uncertainty surrounding the cause of the cancer, the precautionary principle is relevant. Applying it would enable decision makers to seek further scientific studies into the cause of the cancer and to mitigate the harm by further restricting or banning the use of the chemical atrazine used in plantation forestry. I analyse four wildlife cancers, including the Tasmanian devil, to demonstrate that in all cases toxicology studies have been neglected. Close relations between the Tasmanian government and the forestry industry, when operations should be at arms length, have resulted in a conflict of interest in the regulation of chemical use in plantations and the overseeing of the Tasmanian devil scientific research. I recommend that public participation and lay knowledge be incorporated into the future governance of environmental issues. ii Statement of Candidate I certify that this thesis entitled ‘The Devil Undone: The Role of Scientific Ignorance and Politics in the Struggle to Save the Tasmanian Devil’, is entirely my own work except where I have given full documented reference to the work of others, and that the material contained in this thesis has not been submitted for formal assessment in any formal course. Josephine Veronica Warren 20 December 2013 Acknowledgements I would like to express the sincerest appreciation to my principal supervisor, Professor Brian Martin and my co-supervisor Professor Sharon Beder for their constant encouragement, guidance and support throughout the entire process of completing this research project. I would also like to thank Richard Gosden, Alison Bleaney and the many others in Tasmania who contributed their knowledge and whose enthusiasm and dedication helped to maintain my commitment to the project. To my fellow post-graduates and Gayl Vidgen at the Batemans Bay Campus a big thanks for reading and providing helpful comments on my thesis and for sharing the journey. Finally, I would like to thank my family Brick, Rosalie, Troy and Zac for their understanding and patience. Note on Referencing In place of a bibliography at the end of this thesis, full citations are given in the footnotes in each chapter. Ibid is used when citing the previous reference. iii Table of Contents Introduction Tasmania – an island under threat?................................................................................ 3 Theoretical framework…………………………………………………………………5 Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD) science selected for research – the Allograft hypothesis……………………………………………………………………6 An anomaly in the allograft theory: the devils’ immune system……………………....8 DFTD and undone science……………………………………………………………..9 The plantation forestry industry in Tasmania………………………………………...10 A history of contamination of waterways in Tasmania……………………………....11 The need for improved chemical regulations………………………………………...12 Conflict of interest in Tasmanian forestry practices………………………………….15 Scientific uncertainty in DFTD and the precautionary principle……………………..16 Chapter 1 – The Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrissi 1.1 Introduction……………………………………………………………………….18 1.2 Tasmanian devil – what is known?.........................................................................19 1.2.1 Tasmanian devil social habits………………………………………………………...24 1.2.2 Tasmanian devil mating behavior……………………………………………………25 1.2.3 Tasmanian devil feeding habits………………………………………………………25 1.2.4 Tasmanian devil aggressive behavior……………………………………………….26 1.3 The Tasmanian devil cancer……………………………………………………...31 1.4 What is Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD)?....................................................34 1.5 The biting theory………………………………………………………………….39 1.6 Outlook for the Tasmanian devils………………………………………………...41 1.7 Conclusion………………………………………………………………………..41 iv Chapter 2 – The political sociology of science and undone research 2.1 Introduction……………………………………………………………………….43 2.2 What is science?......................................................................................................44 2.3 Orthodox methods and conventions of scientific research……………………….45 2.4 The social construction of science………………………………………………..48 2.5 The new political sociology of science (NPSS)…………………………………..52 2.6 Hess’s alternative pathways in science…………………………………………...54 2.7 Internal and external pressure…………………………………………………….58 2.8 Ignorance – a deficit of knowledge……………………………………………….60 2.8.1 Nescience………………………………………………………………………………..62 2.8.2 Non-knowledge (knowable ignorance)………………………………………………63 2.8.3 Undoable science……………………………………………………………………….64 2.8.4 Undone science as negative or positive non-knowledge…………………………..65 2.9 Reasons for undone science………………………………………………………65 2.9.1 Practical reasons for undone science………………………………………………..66 2.9.2 Political reasons for undone science………………………………………………...67 2.9.2.1 Negative non-knowledge or forbidden knowledge……………………………….67 2.9.2.2 Uncertainty in science……………………………………………………………….68 2.9.2.3 Censorship and the ‘chilling effect’………………………………………………..69 2.9.3 Summary of practical versus political reasons for undone science……………..71 2.10 Methodology…………………………………………………………………….72 2.11 Intervention……………………………………………………………………...74 2.11.1 Intervention in the chemical contamination controversy………………………..75 v 2.11.2 Intervention in the proposed pulp mill activism…………………………………..78 2.12 Approach to the DFTD scientific community…………………………………..79 2.13 Review of DFTD scientific literature…………………………………………...82 2.14 Conclusion………………………………………………………………………83 Chapter 3 – The allograft theory 3.1 Introduction……………………………………………………………………….86 3.2 The Pearse and Swift article……………………………………………………...88 3.3 The two claims……………………………………………………………………88 3.4 The precedents……………………………………………………………………91 3.5 A comparison between CTVT and DFTD allograft programs and undone science………………………………………………………………………………...92 3.5.1 CTVT research program……………………………………………………………….95 3.5.2 A chronology of recent CTVT studies………………………………………………..96 3.5.3 The DFTD research program……………………………………………………….100 3.5.3.1 A chronology of DFTD studies…………………………………………………...102 3.5.4 Summary of comparison between CTVT and DFTD……………………………..114 3.6 Review of comparisons between CTVT and DFTD by Murchison…………….115 3.7 Different strains of DFTD……………………………………………………….117 3.8 Conclusion………………………………………………………………………123 Chapter 4 – The science selected for study 4.1 Introduction……………………………………………………………………...127 4.2 The immune system……………………………………………………………..129 4.3 The Tasmanian devil immune system studies…………………………………..130 4.4 Wildlife cancers and immune systems…………………………………………..134 4.5 Is the lack of genetic diversity in devils a reason for cancer transmission?.........135 vi 4.5.1 The Cheetah precedent……………………………………………………………….138 4.5.2 The role of the majorhistocompatibility (MHC)genes in the devil cancer…….141 4.6 Resistance and the search for a vaccine…………………………………………145 4.7 Cedric and Clinky……………………………………………………………….146 4.8 Sequencing of the devil genome – a conservation project………………………149 4.9 Conclusion………………………………………………………………………153 Chapter 5 – DFTD toxicology studies – the undone science 5.1 Introduction……………………………………………………………………..156 5.2 Why test for chemicals?.......................................................................................157
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Meat, Fish and Dairy Products and the Risk of Cancer: a Summary Matrix 7 2
    Meat, fish and dairy products and the risk of cancer 2018 Contents World Cancer Research Fund Network 3 Executive summary 5 1. Meat, fish and dairy products and the risk of cancer: a summary matrix 7 2. Summary of Panel judgements 9 3. Definitions and patterns 11 3.1 Red meat 11 3.2 Processed meat 12 3.3 Foods containing haem iron 13 3.4 Fish 13 3.5 Cantonese-style salted fish 13 3.6 Grilled (broiled) or barbecued (charbroiled) meat and fish 14 3.7 Dairy products 14 3.8 Diets high in calcium 15 4. Interpretation of the evidence 16 4.1 General 16 4.2 Specific 16 5. Evidence and judgements 27 5.1 Red meat 27 5.2 Processed meat 31 5.3 Foods containing haem iron 35 5.4 Fish 36 5.5 Cantonese-style salted fish 37 5.6 Grilled (broiled) or barbecued (charbroiled) meat and fish 40 5.7 Dairy products 41 5.8 Diets high in calcium 51 5.9 Other 52 6. Comparison with the 2007 Second Expert Report 52 Acknowledgements 53 Abbreviations 57 Glossary 58 References 65 Appendix 1: Criteria for grading evidence for cancer prevention 71 Appendix 2: Mechanisms 74 Our Cancer Prevention Recommendations 79 2 Meat, fish and dairy products and the risk of cancer 2018 WORLD CANCER RESEARCH FUND NETWORK Our Vision We want to live in a world where no one develops a preventable cancer. Our Mission We champion the latest and most authoritative scientific research from around the world on cancer prevention and survival through diet, weight and physical activity, so that we can help people make informed choices to reduce their cancer risk.
    [Show full text]
  • Evaluation of the Frequency of Patients with Cancer Presenting to an Emergency Department
    ORIGINAL ARTICLE Evaluation of the frequency of patients with cancer presenting to an emergency department Cem Isikber1 Muge Gulen1 Salim Satar2 Akkan Avci1 Selen Acehan1 Gulistan Gul Isikber3 Onder Yesiloglu1 1. Adana City Training and Research Hospital, Department of Emergency Medicine, Adana, Turkey. 2. Associate Professor, Adana City Training and Research Hospital, Department of Emergency Medicine, Adana, Turkey. 3. Adana City Training and Research Hospital, Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Adana, Turkey. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1806-9282.66.10.1402 SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: This study aims to determine the demographic characteristics of cancer patients admitted to an emergency department and determine the relationship between the frequency of admission to the emergency department and oncological emergencies and their effect on mortality. METHODS: This observational, prospective, diagnostic accuracy study was performed in the ED of a tertiary care hospital. Patients over the age of 18 who were previously diagnosed with cancer and admitted to the emergency service for medical reasons were included in the study. We recorded baseline characteristics including age, gender, complaints, oncological diagnosis, metastasis status, cancer treatments received, the number of ED admissions, structural and metabolic oncological emergency diagnoses in the ED, discharge status, length of hospital stay, and mortality status. RESULTS: In our study, 1205 applications related to the oncological diagnosis of 261 patients were examined. 55.6% of the patients were male, and 44.4% were female. The most common metabolic oncological emergency was anemia (19.5%), and the most common structural oncological emergency was bone metastasis-fracture (4.6%.) The mean score of admission of patients to the emergency department was four times (min: 1 max: 29) during the study period.
    [Show full text]
  • Lindsay Masters
    CHARACTERISATION OF EXPERIMENTALLY INDUCED AND SPONTANEOUSLY OCCURRING DISEASE WITHIN CAPTIVE BRED DASYURIDS Scott Andrew Lindsay A thesis submitted in fulfillment of requirements for the postgraduate degree of Masters of Veterinary Science Faculty of Veterinary Science University of Sydney March 2014 STATEMENT OF ORIGINALITY Apart from assistance acknowledged, this thesis represents the unaided work of the author. The text of this thesis contains no material previously published or written unless due reference to this material is made. This work has neither been presented nor is currently being presented for any other degree. Scott Lindsay 30 March 2014. i SUMMARY Neosporosis is a disease of worldwide distribution resulting from infection by the obligate intracellular apicomplexan protozoan parasite Neospora caninum, which is a major cause of infectious bovine abortion and a significant economic burden to the cattle industry. Definitive hosts are canid and an extensive range of identified susceptible intermediate hosts now includes native Australian species. Pilot experiments demonstrated the high disease susceptibility and the unexpected observation of rapid and prolific cyst formation in the fat-tailed dunnart (Sminthopsis crassicaudata) following inoculation with N. caninum. These findings contrast those in the immunocompetent rodent models and have enormous implications for the role of the dunnart as an animal model to study the molecular host-parasite interactions contributing to cyst formation. An immunohistochemical investigation of the dunnart host cellular response to inoculation with N. caninum was undertaken to determine if a detectable alteration contributes to cyst formation, compared with the eutherian models. Selective cell labelling was observed using novel antibodies developed against Tasmanian devil proteins (CD4, CD8, IgG and IgM) as well as appropriate labelling with additional antibodies targeting T cells (CD3), B cells (CD79b, PAX5), granulocytes, and the monocyte-macrophage family (MAC387).
    [Show full text]
  • A Study on Tumor Suppressor Genes Mutations Associated with Different Pppathologicalpathological Cccolorectalcolorectal Lllesions.Lesions
    A Study on Tumor Suppressor Genes Mutations Associated with Different PPPathologicalPathological CCColorectalColorectal LLLesions.Lesions. Thesis Submitted for partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Ph.D. degree of Science in Biochemistry By Salwa Naeim Abd ElEl----KaderKader Mater M.Sc. in Biochemistry, 2002 Biological Applications Department Nuclear Research Center Atomic Energy Authority Under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Amani F.H Nour El ---Deen Prof. Dr. Abdel Hady Ali Abdel Wahab Professor of Biochemistry Professor of Biochemistry Biochemistry Department and Molecular Biology Faculty of Science Cancer Biology Department Ain Shams University National Cancer Institute Cairo University Prof. DrDr.MohsenMohsen Ismail Mohamed Dr. Azza Salah Helmy Professor of Clinical Pathology Biological Assistant Professor of Biochemistry Applications Department Biochemistry Department Nuclear Research Center Faculty of Science Atomic Energy Authority Ain Shams University 2012011111 ﺑﺴﻢ ﺍﷲ ﺍﻟﺮﺣﻤﻦ ﺍﻟﺮﺣﻴﻢ ﺇِﻧﻤﺎ ﺃﹶﻣﺮﻩ ﺇِﺫﹶﺍ ﺃﹶﺭﺍﺩ ﺷﻴﺌﹰﺎ ﺃﹶﹾﻥ ﻳﹸﻘﻮﻝﹶ ﻟﹶﻪ ﻛﹸـﻦ ﻓﹶﻴﻜﹸـﻮ ﻥ ﹸ ””” ٨٢٨٨٢٢٨٢““““ﻓﹶﺴﺒﺤﺎﻥﹶ ﺍﱠﻟﺬِﻱ ﺑِﻴﺪِﻩِ ﻣﻠﹶﻜﹸﻮﺕ ﻛﹸـﻞﱢ ﺷـﻲﺀٍ ﻭﺇِﻟﹶﻴـﻪِ ﺗﺮﺟﻌﻮﻥﹶ ””” ٨٣٨٨٣٣٨٣““““ ﺻﺪﻕ ﺍﷲ ﺍﻟﻌﻈﻴﻢ رة (٨٢-٨٣) I declare that this thesis has been composed by myself and the work there in has not been submitted for a degree at this or any other university. Salwa Naeim Abd El-Kader Matter To my dear husband and family Their love, encouragement and help made my studies possible and to them I owe everything. Thank you Salwa Naeim Abd El-Kader Matter Acknowledgement First of all, thanks to Allah the most merciful for guiding me and giving me the strength to complete this work. It is pleasure to express my deepest thanks and profound respect to Prof.
    [Show full text]
  • Platypus Collins, L.R
    AUSTRALIAN MAMMALS BIOLOGY AND CAPTIVE MANAGEMENT Stephen Jackson © CSIRO 2003 All rights reserved. Except under the conditions described in the Australian Copyright Act 1968 and subsequent amendments, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, duplicating or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owner. Contact CSIRO PUBLISHING for all permission requests. National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication entry Jackson, Stephen M. Australian mammals: Biology and captive management Bibliography. ISBN 0 643 06635 7. 1. Mammals – Australia. 2. Captive mammals. I. Title. 599.0994 Available from CSIRO PUBLISHING 150 Oxford Street (PO Box 1139) Collingwood VIC 3066 Australia Telephone: +61 3 9662 7666 Local call: 1300 788 000 (Australia only) Fax: +61 3 9662 7555 Email: [email protected] Web site: www.publish.csiro.au Cover photos courtesy Stephen Jackson, Esther Beaton and Nick Alexander Set in Minion and Optima Cover and text design by James Kelly Typeset by Desktop Concepts Pty Ltd Printed in Australia by Ligare REFERENCES reserved. Chapter 1 – Platypus Collins, L.R. (1973) Monotremes and Marsupials: A Reference for Zoological Institutions. Smithsonian Institution Press, rights Austin, M.A. (1997) A Practical Guide to the Successful Washington. All Handrearing of Tasmanian Marsupials. Regal Publications, Collins, G.H., Whittington, R.J. & Canfield, P.J. (1986) Melbourne. Theileria ornithorhynchi Mackerras, 1959 in the platypus, 2003. Beaven, M. (1997) Hand rearing of a juvenile platypus. Ornithorhynchus anatinus (Shaw). Journal of Wildlife Proceedings of the ASZK/ARAZPA Conference. 16–20 March.
    [Show full text]
  • The Hunter and Biodiversity in Tasmania
    The Hunter and Biodiversity in Tasmania The Hunter takes place on Tasmania’s Central Plateau, where “One hundred and sixty-five million years ago potent forces had exploded, clashed, pushed the plateau hundreds of metres into the sky.” [a, 14] The story is about the hunt for the last Tasmanian tiger, described in the novel as: “that monster whose fabulous jaw gapes 120 degrees, the carnivorous marsupial which had so confused the early explorers — a ‘striped wolf’, ‘marsupial wolf.’” [a, 16] Fig 1. Paperbark woodlands and button grass plains near Derwent Bridge, Central Tasmania. Source: J. Stadler, 2010. Biodiversity “Biodiversity”, or biological diversity, refers to variety in all forms of life—all plants and animals, their genes, and the ecosystems they live in. [b] It is important because all living things are connected with each other. For example, humans depend on living things in the environment for clean air to breathe, food to eat, and clean water to drink. Biodiversity is one of the underlying themes in The Hunter, a Tasmanian film directed by David Nettheim in 2011 and based on Julia Leigh’s 1999 novel about the hunt for the last Tasmanian Tiger. The film and the novel showcase problems that arise from loss of species, loss of habitat, and contested ideas about land use. The story is set in the Central Plateau Conservation Area and much of the film is shot just south of that area near Derwent Bridge and in the Florentine Valley. In Tasmania, land clearing is widely considered to be the biggest threat to biodiversity [c, d].
    [Show full text]
  • A Phylogeny and Timescale for Marsupial Evolution Based on Sequences for Five Nuclear Genes
    J Mammal Evol DOI 10.1007/s10914-007-9062-6 ORIGINAL PAPER A Phylogeny and Timescale for Marsupial Evolution Based on Sequences for Five Nuclear Genes Robert W. Meredith & Michael Westerman & Judd A. Case & Mark S. Springer # Springer Science + Business Media, LLC 2007 Abstract Even though marsupials are taxonomically less diverse than placentals, they exhibit comparable morphological and ecological diversity. However, much of their fossil record is thought to be missing, particularly for the Australasian groups. The more than 330 living species of marsupials are grouped into three American (Didelphimorphia, Microbiotheria, and Paucituberculata) and four Australasian (Dasyuromorphia, Diprotodontia, Notoryctemorphia, and Peramelemorphia) orders. Interordinal relationships have been investigated using a wide range of methods that have often yielded contradictory results. Much of the controversy has focused on the placement of Dromiciops gliroides (Microbiotheria). Studies either support a sister-taxon relationship to a monophyletic Australasian clade or a nested position within the Australasian radiation. Familial relationships within the Diprotodontia have also proved difficult to resolve. Here, we examine higher-level marsupial relationships using a nuclear multigene molecular data set representing all living orders. Protein-coding portions of ApoB, BRCA1, IRBP, Rag1, and vWF were analyzed using maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian methods. Two different Bayesian relaxed molecular clock methods were employed to construct a timescale for marsupial evolution and estimate the unrepresented basal branch length (UBBL). Maximum likelihood and Bayesian results suggest that the root of the marsupial tree is between Didelphimorphia and all other marsupials. All methods provide strong support for the monophyly of Australidelphia. Within Australidelphia, Dromiciops is the sister-taxon to a monophyletic Australasian clade.
    [Show full text]
  • Thylacinidae
    FAUNA of AUSTRALIA 20. THYLACINIDAE JOAN M. DIXON 1 Thylacine–Thylacinus cynocephalus [F. Knight/ANPWS] 20. THYLACINIDAE DEFINITION AND GENERAL DESCRIPTION The single member of the family Thylacinidae, Thylacinus cynocephalus, known as the Thylacine, Tasmanian Tiger or Wolf, is a large carnivorous marsupial (Fig. 20.1). Generally sandy yellow in colour, it has 15 to 20 distinct transverse dark stripes across the back from shoulders to tail. While the large head is reminiscent of the dog and wolf, the tail is long and characteristically stiff and the legs are relatively short. Body hair is dense, short and soft, up to 15 mm in length. Body proportions are similar to those of the Tasmanian Devil, Sarcophilus harrisii, the Eastern Quoll, Dasyurus viverrinus and the Tiger Quoll, Dasyurus maculatus. The Thylacine is digitigrade. There are five digital pads on the forefoot and four on the hind foot. Figure 20.1 Thylacine, side view of the whole animal. (© ABRS)[D. Kirshner] The face is fox-like in young animals, wolf- or dog-like in adults. Hairs on the cheeks, above the eyes and base of the ears are whitish-brown. Facial vibrissae are relatively shorter, finer and fewer than in Tasmanian Devils and Quolls. The short ears are about 80 mm long, erect, rounded and covered with short fur. Sexual dimorphism occurs, adult males being larger on average. Jaws are long and powerful and the teeth number 46. In the vertebral column there are only two sacrals instead of the usual three and from 23 to 25 caudal vertebrae rather than 20 to 21.
    [Show full text]
  • An Investigation Into Factors Affecting Breeding Success in The
    An investigation into factors affecting breeding success in the Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) Tracey Catherine Russell Faculty of Science School of Life and Environmental Science The University of Sydney Australia A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy 2018 Faculty of Science The University of Sydney Table of Contents Table of Figures ............................................................................................................ viii Table of Tables ................................................................................................................. x Acknowledgements .........................................................................................................xi Chapter Acknowledgements .......................................................................................... xii Abbreviations ................................................................................................................. xv An investigation into factors affecting breeding success in the Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) .................................................................................................. xvii Abstract ....................................................................................................................... xvii 1 Chapter One: Introduction and literature review .............................................. 1 1.1 Devil Life History ...................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Environmental Causes of Cancer
    British Toxicology Society http://www.thebts.org/ Environmental Causes of Cancer What is cancer? Cancer is the uncontrolled replication of cells. Such cells have different characteristics from regular cells, enabling them to escape the normal mechanisms controlling cell division and fate. Cancer develops when cells progressively acquire several of these characteristics. Cancer is a major cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the world. During their lifetime, approximately 50% of the population will develop cancer and, globally, almost 17% will die of cancer. Cancer is spoken of as if it were a single disease, but it is a multiplicity of diseases, each with its own aetiology, risk factors and population trends. Nevertheless, amongst adverse health effects, it is amongst those diseases treated with most dread, not surprisingly given that some forms of cancer are untreatable and have a very high mortality rate. Cancer is a progressive and persistent disease and it typically takes approx. 25% of a lifespan to develop cancer in a solid tissue, such as the liver or lung. A corollary of this is that most cancers are diseases of older age, and almost 50% of cancer deaths are in the over 70s. Hence, as the population ages, the proportion dying of cancer increases. This, in part, reflects the effectiveness of improving population longevity. Given the above, there has been intense focus over the last 50 years in trying to identify the causes of cancer, in that prevention would be the most effective public health strategy. Early studies concluded that the majority of cancer was environmental in origin and some inferred that this was because of the presence of chemicals in the environment, whereas in fact it meant that most cancers were not obviously inherited, i.e.
    [Show full text]
  • Inflammation and Cancer: a Comparative View
    Review J Vet Intern Med 2012;26:18–31 Inflammation and Cancer: A Comparative View Wallace B. Morrison Rudolph Virchow first speculated on a relationship between inflammation and cancer more than 150 years ago. Subse- quently, chronic inflammation and associated reactive free radical overload and some types of bacterial, viral, and parasite infections that cause inflammation were recognized as important risk factors for cancer development and account for one in four of all human cancers worldwide. Even viruses that do not directly cause inflammation can cause cancer when they act in conjunction with proinflammatory cofactors or when they initiate or promote cancer via the same signaling path- ways utilized in inflammation. Whatever its origin, inflammation in the tumor microenvironment has many cancer-promot- ing effects and aids in the proliferation and survival of malignant cells and promotes angiogenesis and metastasis. Mediators of inflammation such as cytokines, free radicals, prostaglandins, and growth factors can induce DNA damage in tumor suppressor genes and post-translational modifications of proteins involved in essential cellular processes including apoptosis, DNA repair, and cell cycle checkpoints that can lead to initiation and progression of cancer. Key words: Cancer; Comparative; Infection; Inflammation; Tumor. pidemiologic evidence suggests that approximately that has documented similar or identical genetic E25% of all human cancer worldwide is associated expression, inflammatory cell infiltrates, cytokine and with chronic inflammation, chronic infection, or both chemokine expression, and other biomarkers in (Tables 1 and 2).1–5 Local inflammation as an anteced- humans and many domestic mammals with morpho- ent event to cancer development has long been recog- logically equivalent cancers.65–78 The author is una- nized in cancer patients.
    [Show full text]
  • LABOR NEWSNEWS Octoberoctober 2008 2012 PREMIER’S MESSAGE an Abbott Federal Government Would Be a Disaster for Tasmania
    LABORLABOR NEWSNEWS OctoberOctober 2008 2012 PREMIER’S MESSAGE An Abbott Federal Government would be a disaster for Tasmania. It’s difficult to overstate the damage that the federal Opposition leader’s policies would do to the Tasmanian economy and government services if he is ever elected Prime Minister. The single biggest threat is the Liberal Party’s stance on the distribution of GST revenue. Mainland Liberal Premiers are united in pushing for a per capita distribution of GST revenue, which would strip up to $700 million per annum from Tasmania’s budget. That’s the equivalent of $5000 for every Tasmanian household. Mr Abbott has consistently expressed sympathy and support for his Liberal colleague’s campaign. His claims that such an approach would not disadvantage Tasmania are laughable. Liberal Premiers are pursuing a change in the way GST revenue is distributed because they PREMIER LARA GIDDINGS want to get their hands on more of it. With a finite amount of cash available, giving more to WA, Victoria, Queensland and NSW must mean there’s less available for the smaller States. The impact on public services in Tasmania of a further massive reduction in GST revenue would be devastating. But the potential damage to Tasmania of an Abbott government does not end there. Mr Abbott’s pledge to repeal the price on carbon would strip a further $70 million per annum from Tasmania, as we benefit financially from our strong advantage in renewable energy. He has also pledged to abandon the NBN, which would cost Tasmania 800 jobs in the roll-out phase and jeopardise our place in the new digital economy.
    [Show full text]