mentalflex, I was praying for you today and some info I have been looking at for connective tissue and muscular dystrophy came to mind. Here are some bullet points. Oxidative stress, inflammation, and genes can all play a part in an overabundance of enzymes in the body called MMPs that can lead/play a part in tissue degeneration and spread of cancer/tumor growth.
"In order to grow beyond minimal size and to metastasize, tumors need to induce the growth of new blood vessels (angiogenesis). Whereas in normal tissues,
vascular quiescence is maintained by the dominant influence of endogenous angiogenesis inhibitors over angiogenic stimuli, t
umor angiogenesis is induced by increased secretion of angiogenic factors and/or by downregulation of angiogenesis inhibitors. Recent evidence suggests vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) as the major tumor angiogenesis factor, promoting tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis. Conversely, blocking of VEGF function inhibits angiogenesis and suppresses tumor growth in vivo."
**broken link removed**
Some more on angiogenesis and Cancer.
Angiogenesis Inhibitors - National Cancer Institute
[Ultrasound diagnosis of blood flow in benign and malignant breast tumors]. - PubMed - NCBI
Many studies look at tumor blood flow as a sign of a tumor being malignant or benign. Besides the presence of/or abundance of Vascular growth factors and lack of inhibitors, there still needs to be the ability for the tissue of the veins to be dissolved, blood to enter surrounding tissue, and growth factors to signal new growth.
The same enzymes that are involved in Tendon degeneration, disc/cartilage degeneration, and Muscular dystrophy progression plays a major part in angiogenesis, the enzymes MMP's
"Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are zinc-dependent endopeptidases; other family members are adamalysins, serralysins, and astacins. The MMPs belong to a larger family of proteases known as the metzincin superfamily.[1]
"Collectively, these enzymes are capable of
degrading all kinds of extracellular matrix proteins, but also can process a number of bioactive molecules. They are known to be involved in the cleavage of cell surface receptors, the release of apoptotic ligands (such as the FAS ligand), and chemokine/cytokine inactivation.[2] MMPs are also thought to play a major role on cell behaviors such as cell proliferation, migration (adhesion/dispersion), differentiation,
angiogenesis, apoptosis, and host defense."
[ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matrix_metalloproteinase"]Matrix metalloproteinase - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame]
Some more MMP reading.
Matrix Metalloproteinases, Angiogenesis, and Cancer
Once again the "western medical industry" has been "disappointed" at the side effects and lack of MMP inhibitors they tested to fight cancer, however let me point some things out.
DRUG MMP inhibitors hurt heart function, caused blood clotting, and also wound healing problems, yet nature may have the answer. I WOULD not expect MMP inhibitors to stop the spread of cancer once tumors recieve blood flow, but LOGIC would say that BALANCING out VEGF and MMPs could stop benign tumors from achieving "angiogenesis" and becoming malignant. And it SEEMS we can take natural MMP inhibitors without the same side effects as the drugs.
For the sake of Brevity I will give the bullet points than list sources.
Grape seed extract lowers MMPs, lowers VEGF, shows ANIT-TUMOR PROPERTIES AND improves vascular function
Other things to balance out MMPs
Alpha lipoic acid
Quercitin
Curcumin
"Grape seed extract (GSE) is a widely consumed dietary supplement that has antitumor activity. Here, we have investigated the inhibitory effect of GSE on the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and the mechanism underlying this action."
Grape seed extract inhibits VEGF expression via reducing HIF-1? protein expression
http://www.usana.com/media/File/dotCom/company/science/crb/CR_GSE_Vascular_Health_Poster.pdf
For other links to MMPs.
http://www.professionalmuscle.com/f...ssible-alternative-spinal-fusion-surgery.html
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