Pokemon causes cancer.

[Ammer]

New Gene Could Be a Master Switch for Cancer


January 19, 2005 04:54:45 PM PST


Scientists have discovered a new cancer-causing gene that they believe could be a molecular master switch for the disease.

Dubbed the Pokemon gene, it is one of several so-called oncogenes that lead normal cells to become cancerous. But it could be one of the most important.

"Pokemon is a main switch in the molecular network that leads toward cancer," said Dr Pier Paolo Pandolfi, of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) in New York who headed the team that identified the gene.

"If we could turn Pokemon off, it may block the oncogenic circuitry and stall the malignant process."

Although it shares its name with the popular Japanese pocket monster cartoon characters, Pandolfi said it is purely coincidental. Pokemon is short for POK Erythroid Myeloid Ontogenic factor.

Cancer develops when normal cells mutate and divide uncontrollably to form a tumour. When oncogenes do not functional well, they can lead normal cells to turn cancerous.

"What is extraordinary about this gene is that it is essential for the function of the other oncogenes," Pandolfi said in an interview.

"It is a main switch of this network of oncogenes that control (cell) transformation. None of the oncogenes so far identified play such a critical role."

Pandolfi, Takahiro Maeda and their colleagues, who reported the research in the journal Nature, believe the protein produced by the gene could be a new target for drug therapies against cancer which kills more than 6 million people each year.

"We have a clear idea of how to block its function," said Pandolfi.

In animal studies, the scientists discovered that the Pokemon protein interferes with the action of other proteins, including a tumor suppressor called ARF.

When they inserted the gene into mice, the animal developed and died from an aggressive form of lymphoma. The researchers also found high levels of the Pokemon protein in human lymphomas.

But the scientists said they have preliminary data showing it is involved in other types of cancer.

They hope to develop a diagnostic tool to determine the status of the gene in human cancers and a drug to block its function.

"We know that Pokemon is aberrantly over-expressed in human cancers and that its expression levels predict biological behavior and clinical outcome," the scientists said in the journal.

A funny coincidence. I bet the person who named it knew Pokemon's dark evil secret.

Source(s):
http://health.yahoo.com/news/54693
http://www.nynewsday.com/news/health/ny ... 8191.story

Last edited by Ammer on Wed Jan 26, 2005 10:24 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Asthaloth]

oh no, another thing causes cancer.
well, scratch of my genetic coding alongside foods cooked at high temperetures, having contact with UV radiation (heck, telephones too, minor radiation but there is the risk) umm, what else.. im sure foods frozen below a certain tempereture did aswell.
in short; i think i'll just lay down and die now, everything i do has the risk of causing cancer.

this is Setekh signing off, after another overreactive outburst against pop scientists.

[ChromeFox]

This is funny, but it's gotta be satire. Source, please?

[shapu]

No, it's dead on.

Linky

[Ammer]

This is funny, but it's gotta be satire. Source, please?

Source: http://health.yahoo.com/news/54693

[Robert]

I knew pokemon was bad for your health. That is actually kind of funny, but judging by the artical it sounds like it may be a major development in cancer research!

[vkceankraz]

I wonder if the Pokemon people are going to be angry, since this might impact their sales.

[(*Dranzer*)]

Yeah, i can't wait for a kid to read this and be like,

"Pikachu! How could you????"

[Fishblade_Bluestream]

I knew Pokemon caused seizures, but not cancer. XD

[ChromeFox]

lol It's funny how we're completely missing the point here: they might've found the "trigger" for cancer.

Might've.

[Christopher]

vkceankraz, nothing can stop pokemon sales, whether it be US censors claim devil worship, episodes causing seizures, or the fact its kinda stagnant after so many years

[sirclucky]

POK Erythroid Myeloid Ontogenic

I dont think its a conindence. Before long will we will the "NE Othpeidc Petanomic Ertyhwrthy Tailbassin factor"(me like making up words:lol:) causing the common cold

[Donald]

Hmm.. I use to be completely obsessed with Pokemon.. and im perfectly fine. haha.. well thats just me though

ack.. poor pokemon.

[Rivvie]

Pretty good they found a cancer gene, but I would have thought twice before nameing it "pokemon"

[Pokemon Kid]

BAH HUMBUG!


*Watches Pokemon in spite.......and.............brain*