A novel way of targeting breast cancer cells that are resistant to current treatments have been discovered by scientists at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Centre.
They have identified a receptor called, CXCR1, on the cancer stem cells, which triggers growth of stem cells in response to inflammation and tissue damage.
Breast Cancer - Causes, Risks, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Staging, Treatment, Prevention & Prognosis
Breast cancer is a cancer that affects the breasts or mammary glands. Early detection and lifestyle changes help in controlling breast cancer.
Breast cancer is a cancer that affects the breasts or mammary glands. Early detection and lifestyle changes help in controlling breast cancer.
"Developing treatments to effectively target the cancer stem cell population is essential for improving outcomes," said senior study author Max S. Wicha, M.D., Distinguished Professor of Oncology and director of the U-M Comprehensive Cancer Centre.
"This work suggests a new strategy to target cancer stem cells that can be readily translated into the clinic," Wicha added.
Breast Lumps Screening
Breast lumps must never be neglected but instead be subjected to medical examination to rule out cancer.
Breast lumps must never be neglected but instead be subjected to medical examination to rule out cancer.
The study showed that when tumors were exposed to chemotherapy, the dying cells produce IL-8, which stimulates cancer stem cells to replicate.
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Breast biopsy involves removing a sample of breast tissue to determine whether it is cancerous or benign.
Breast biopsy involves removing a sample of breast tissue to determine whether it is cancerous or benign.
Mice treated with repertaxin or the combination of repertaxin and chemotherapy had dramatically fewer cancer stem cells than those treated with chemotherapy alone.
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About Cancer in Women
Cancer is one of the frequently talked about and most feared disease that falls under the genre of lifestyle diseases that have evolved, rather rapidly, in the past two decades.
Cancer is one of the frequently talked about and most feared disease that falls under the genre of lifestyle diseases that have evolved, rather rapidly, in the past two decades.
"These studies suggest that important links between inflammation, tissue damage and breast cancer may be mediated by cancer stem cells," Wicha said.
"Furthermore, anti-inflammatory drugs such as repertaxin may provide a means of blocking these interactions, thereby targeting breast cancer stem cells," Wicha added.
The study appears in Journal of Clinical Investigation.
Source-ANI
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