Eli Cahan, a Boston-based journalist and physician specializing in emerging diseases, talks about the alarming rise of acute flaccid myelitis (AFM), a polio-like illness causing paralysis in children. He discusses the urgent need for a vaccine and what this reveals about our healthcare readiness for outbreaks. Sylvia Plevritis, a Stanford professor in Biomedical Data Science, explores the overlooked role of non-cancerous cells in tumors, which could lead to breakthroughs in cancer treatment. Together, they highlight the critical intersections of infectious diseases and cancer research.
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2014 Mystery AFM Cases
In 2014, doctors encountered children suddenly unable to move limbs with no clear cause.
Initial tests failed to provide answers, highlighting the mystery and urgency of the condition.
insights INSIGHT
AFM Linked to Enterovirus D68
Acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) is associated with enterovirus D68, a cousin of polio.
This connection helped direct research toward identifying and understanding the virus causing AFM.
insights INSIGHT
Children More Severely Affected
AFM primarily affects children but is not exclusive to them.
Children tend to exhibit more severe symptoms, similar to historic polio patterns.
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A mysterious disease called acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) has been appearing in emergency rooms for about a decade. The disease has caused otherwise healthy children to lose the ability to move their arms and legs, and some become completely paralyzed. AFM is caused by a virus that's a cousin of the polio virus, earning it the nickname "the new polio.” Journalist and physician Eli Cahan joins Host Flora Lichtman to explain what doctors have been observing, the research efforts toward developing a vaccine, and what this emerging disease reveals about our readiness for future outbreaks and pandemics.
And, learning more about some non-cancerous cells may help researchers better understand how cancer progresses. When you think about how cancer spreads in the body, you’re probably thinking about cancer cells—they divide uncontrollably, form into tumors, and hide from the immune system. So, it makes sense that studying the behavior of these cells is critical to our understanding of cancer. But now, researchers are looking more closely at the non-cancerous cells that co-exist within tumors and the surrounding tissues. They make up what’s called the “colocateome.” Taking this more holistic approach to cancer research may help explain why some treatments don't work for all patients, and eventually may lead to more effective therapies. To better understand this expanding field, Host Ira Flatow talks with Sylvia Plevritis, a Stanford University cancer researcher.
Guests: Dr. Eli Cahan is a journalist and physician based in Boston, Massachusetts. Dr. Sylvia Plevritis is a professor of biomedical data science and radiology at Stanford University.
Science Friday