The New Nation - Internet Edition

Research carried out by a Scottish scientist has created new hope for getting effective treatment for advanced prostate cancer.

Dr Joanne Edwards of Glasgow University found out that a chemically modified form of a protein, found in the cancer cells, appears to be responsible for making them fail to respond to the traditional drugs. Since this protein can be modified in 10 different ways, the changes can be tracked to determine if any are directly associated with the advanced stage of the disease. The Association for International Cancer Research-AICR has given the scientist 70 thousand pound for more research on why advanced prostate cancer can't be cured.

The prostate, found near the bladder, helps make and expel semen, but is a common source of cancer. About 25 percent of all new cancers diagnosed in men are prostate cancers.

Prostate cancer cells normally multiply in the presence of androgens - the male sex hormones. So treatment can be possible by blocking their effect. But where prostate cancer is at an advanced stage, cells are able to grow without androgens and naturally the traditional drugs fail to cure the disease. Dr Edwards' research is expected to help us know why the existing treatments do not work and show the ways of developing new and effective treatment for advanced prostate cancer. It's obviously a new hope and we expect to get effective treatment for the disease in near future.

Abu Alam

Dhaka

It is heartening to learn that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has achieved "Green Status" which is the highest level, in four out of seven categories for 'Strategic Management of Human Capital' under the President's Management Agenda (PMA).

Congratulations to the USAID Administrator, Managers and all the staff members.

It is sincerely hoped that the USAID will undertake special projects for the socio-economic development of Bangladesh, especially in education, power, agriculture and health sectors.

Professor M Zahidul Haque

Chairman,

Department of Agricultural Extension & Information System,

Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University,

Dhaka.