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Studies Transformed skin cells kill tumor cells
Cancer is a serious condition that unfortunately can often be fatal. Glioblastoma is a particularly dangerous form of brain cancer that is not completely removable by surgery. This form of cancer already kills about 70 percent of all patients in the first two years of the disease. Now, scientists at University of North Carolina may have developed a method that will allow treatment. They transformed skin cells into cells that can kill cancer cells.
Millions of people worldwide suffer from cancer and countless deaths are caused by cancer each year. Glioblastoma is a form of brain cancer in which only about 30 percent of those affected survive the first two years of the disease, the researchers say. Even if a surgeon removes the tumor, it is almost impossible to eliminate all invasive tumor cells. These are distributed throughout the brain and allow the tumor to grow again. Physicians from the University of North Carolina have now developed a way to turn skin cells into cells that kill brain tumor cells. The scientists published their study results in the journal "Nature Communications".
In the future treatment of brain tumors, converted skin cells could help. (Image: sudok1 / fotolia.com) Reprogrammed skin cells first used for cancer treatment
Glioblastomas are aggressive and fast-growing tumors that form so-called astrocytes. These cells make up the supporting tissue of the brain. Astrocytes are star-shaped, branched cells whose border membranes form extensions to the brain surface and to our blood vessels. Astrocytes multiply rapidly and are supported by a large network of blood vessels. Therefore, this relatively rare cancer is very difficult to treat. We wanted to find out if these induced neural stem cells dock to cancer cells and if it is possible for the cells to transfer a therapeutic agent, Dr. Shawn Hingtgen of the University of North Carolina in a press release from the University. This is the first time that this reprogramming technology has been used to directly treat cancer, the expert adds.
Survival rate of mice increased by up to 220 percent
Within the study, American researchers reprogrammed skin cells, also known as fibroblasts. Neural stem cells were then developed from such cells and these produced a protein that can kill tumors, the researchers explain. The cells that normally produce collagen and connective tissue chase and kill cancer cells after they are transformed. The cells were then placed in test mice and held in place using a physical matrix, the researchers say. So the cells should be kept in certain areas of the body in order to have enough time there to scan the environment for cancer cells. Depending on the type and specific location of the tumor, the survival rate of mice increased by 160 to 220 percent, explain the experts. Future research focuses on the use of human stem cells. In addition, more effective anti-cancer drugs need to be made that can be paired with the reprogrammed neural stem cells, added the physicians.