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BALTIMORE—In the decades-long war on cancer, as of late, researchers had been making little progress in comparison to colleagues treating other conditions, such as cardiac or infectious diseases. "Cancer research has really plateaued out," William Matsui, an associate professor of oncology at Johns Hopkins University's School of Medicine, said at the 2009 World Stem Cell Summit here on Tuesday. But pushing cancer stem cell research "gives us a novel way to study cancer," said Matsui, who also runs a lab at the university's Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Cancer and stem cells have had a fraught relationship—not in the least because of early concern that stem cell treatments could in fact spur on cancer through their encouragement of undifferentiated cell growth. But cancer stem cells themselves have gained a more solid toe-hold in the past several years as a potential new target for cancer research.

Cancer stem cells—or CSCs—are presumed to have similar capabilities as healthy stem cells: they can regenerate and differentiate into any cell that makes up the cancer. Such cells are often blamed for relapses in patients who by all other measures appear to have been cured. One of the large problems, however, has been in finding these cells. In some cancers, such as some leukemias, they are suspected to be only one cell in a million.

Cancer stem cells' persistence has given rise to the so-called dandelion theory of cancer treatment. Researchers and doctors have traditionally worked to obliterate the visible cancerous menace—the tumor, or dandelion weed, as it were. But as anyone with a lawn may be well aware, hacking off the flower does little to stop the root—that is, the stem cell—from regenerating another attack later. So, posits Richard Jones, also at the Sidney Kimmel Comparative Cancer Center, it's possible that effective drugs may have been abandoned because they were not creating quick, visible responses. Eliminating the root stem cells will cause the tumors to stop growing, but not right away, he explained at the summit.

Just last week, researchers at Harvard Medical School announced that a common diabetes drug, metformin, might in fact target breast cancer stem cells. Their study, published online in Cancer Research, showed better outcomes for mice with the cancer when they were given a combination of the diabetes drug and traditional chemotherapy treatment.

Other research is trying to untangle the behavior of breast cancer stem cells that implant themselves in blood vessel walls with pernicious microtentacles. Many would-be breast cancer cells get destroyed as they try to pass through too-small capillaries. Some, however, appear to have filament-like microtentacles, which allow them to latch onto the vessel walls rather than pass through and get broken up. A team at the University of Maryland Greenebaum Cancer Center has been studying these tentacled cells and testing different compounds to prohibit their growth.

The origins and full capacity of cancer stem cells, however, still remain largely unknown. Curious reports from outside the cancer research field have been trickling in, further obscuring the relationship between cancer and stem cells. Some researchers have described a phase in the reprogramming of adult induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells in which the cells exhibit similar profiles to cancer cells. Others have reported that embryonic stem cells provided for research have arrived with chromosomal and genetic abnormalities that suggest they might have been on their way to becoming cancerous.

Despite recent advances in the identification—and targeting—of cancer stem cells, even those championing the research still refer to the pursuit as a hypothesis. Not everyone is convinced that cancer stem cells are ultimately to blame for many—if any—cancers. Matsui professes hope that the stem cell avenue will eventually suggest effective new treatments. And if it doesn't? He shrugs and says he supposes he'll take up another cause.

Image showing difference between traditional cancer treatment and cancer stem cell-targeted treatment courtesy of Wikimedia Commons/Peter Znamenskiy

6 Comments

1. 1. Prachi 02:02 AM 11/13/09

   Stem Cell Treatment is having miraculous results for incurable diseases suffering patients...And Cord Blood Banking is the answer to treat many illnesses in advance.. If done in advance at the time of birth of your baby..!! Need more information on Stem Cell Treatment and Cord Blood Banking.
   Visit:- www.stemcellgf.org
   

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2. 2. Prachi 04:46 AM 11/18/09

   I lost my Aunt 2 years back ... She was suffering from breast cancer.. We were not aware of Stem cell treatment for Breast Cancer in its early stages.. That would be the only grief that will remain in our hearts till we breathe ... We really miss you aunt..!!May your soul rest in PEACE.. but for other patients I want to create awareness about Stem cell treatment given by Stem Cell Global Foundation, I have seen their treatment provided to be very promising in giving quality life to breast cancer patients. I personally recommend this organization and For more information ,Please visit website, www.stemcellgf.org

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3. 3. Prachi 04:48 AM 11/18/09

   I lost my Aunt 2 years back ... She was suffering from breast cancer.. We were not aware of Stem cell treatment for Breast Cancer in its early stages.. That would be the only grief that will remain in our hearts till we breathe ... We really miss you aunt..!!May your soul rest in PEACE.. but for other patients I want to create awareness about Stem cell treatment given by Stem Cell Global Foundation, I have seen their treatment provided to be very promising in giving quality life to breast cancer patients. I personally recommend this organization and For more information ,Please visit website, www.stemcellgf.org

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4. 4. cdenver 09:51 PM 12/6/09

   I say full speed ahead along many different paths of stem cell research. The United States should not shy away from exploring the many benefits that can result from stem cell research--out fear of how some evil people do with the results of stem cell research.
   
   The search for knowledge may take researchers along unintended paths to unintended discoveries. But this is not uncommon, and it is no reason to shy away from it. Some of the most important discoveries were unintended. Once the knowledge of various types of stem cell technology (IPS) and others- is out of the tube--like toothpaste, you cannot put it back into the tube. It is better to embrace it and move to the head of the knowledge curve. Regulation and control requires in-depth knowledge of the subject matter, and it is better for this knowledge to reside in the United States, where our value system is highly regarded. It is not prudent to shy away from various research paths because of predictions what evil things that evil people will do with it. I am reading these blogs and Robert Lanza article because my interest was stimulated after reading the novel titled AGELESS A Stem Cell Mystery The website address for this novel is www.ageless-stemcellmystery.com

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5. 5. colon cleanse 11:40 PM 10/6/10

   Cancer will not be big deal to you not unless someone you know gets sick with it.
   http://www.colon-cleanse-constipation.com
   Oncologists continue to find better ways to screen patients to be able to know how to deal with them. The earlier the detection, the better.
   
   

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6. 6. herryponting 04:24 AM 5/9/13

   The body's first line of defense is a healthy colon. However, our internal detoxification process can break down.

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