Commonalities In Cancer Stem Cells
EurekAlert! reports on the discovery of another variety of cancer stem cells. Intriguingly, there are similarities between a number of those types found so far: "Researchers [have] identified the cancer stem cells that propagate tumors in colon and rectal cancer ... We have brought together a team of scientists and clinicians who will help find the weak points in cancer, devise new immune and molecular diagnostics and therapeutics, test them in mice that carry the cancer stem cells and, hopefully, in a few years begin to test them in our patients ... A protein called CD44 that has already been found dotting the surface of both breast and head and neck cancer stem cells also turns up on the colorectal cancer stem cells. ... that finding could simply reflect the fact that all of those tumors arise from similar tissue. It could also mean that a similar therapy could target all three cell types." Similar biomarkers means a lower cost of developing therapies - but it remains an open question as to whether cancer stem cells are the quick path to victory. We can hope, because a highly effective cure for cancer will have its part to play in the longevity medicine toolkit.
Link: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-06/sumc-srf053107.php