“New
Approach to Treating Human Brain Cancer Could Lead to Improved Outcomes” – that’s
the headline of a press release from the Sanford-Burnham Medical Research
Institute (Sanford-Burnham).
According
to the release, “The method targets cancer stem cells—the cells that are
critical for maintaining tumor growth—and halts their ability to proliferate by
inhibiting enzymes that are essential for tumor progression. The process
destroys the ability of the cancer cells to grow and divide, paving the way for
a new type of treatment for patients with this disease.”
The
press release says that “The research team, led by Robert Wechsler-Reya, Ph.D.,
professor in Sanford-Burnham’s NCI-Designated Cancer Center and director of the
Tumor Initiation and Maintenance Program, discovered that the medulloblastoma
cancer cells responsible for tumor growth and progression (called cancer stem
cells or tumor-propagating cells—TPCs) divide more quickly than normal cells.
Correspondingly, they have higher levels of certain enzymes that regulate the
cell cycle (Aurora and Polo-like kinases).
By using small-molecule inhibitors
to stop the action of these enzymes, the researchers were able to block the
growth of tumor cells from mice as well as humans. The research findings are
described in an online paper published September 25 by Cancer Research.”
While
I am no scientist, this sounds like the research team either read Clifton Leaf’s
insightful book, The Truth in Small Doses,
or just plain indulged in some smart problem solving.
Here’s
a link to the press release: http://www.newswise.com/articles/new-approach-to-treating-human-brain-cancer-could-lead-to-improved-outcomes
Image credit: <a href='http://www.123rf.com/photo_11995657_human-brain-cancer-with-cells-spreading-and-growing-as-malignant-cells-in-a-human-caused-by-environm.html'>lightwise
/ 123RF Stock Photo</a>
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