About Careers MedBlog Contact us
Medindia LOGIN REGISTER
Advertisement

Colon Cancer Stem Cells Fueled by Immune Cells

by Dr. Enozia Vakil on May 11, 2014 at 9:31 PM
Font : A-A+

 Colon Cancer Stem Cells Fueled by Immune Cells

The aggressive properties of cancer stem cells are being fueled by a subset of immune cells directly targeting colon cancers rather than the immune system.

So finds a new study that is an international collaboration among researchers from the United States, China and Poland.

Advertisement

"If you want to control cancer stem cells through new therapies, then you need to understand what controls the cancer stem cells," says senior study author Weiping Zou, M.D., Ph.D., Charles B. de Nancrede Professor of surgery, immunology and biology at the University of Michigan Medical School.

Consider invasive Africanized honey bees. The worker honey bees are like the bulk majority of tumor cells while the queen bee is like the cancer stem cell. The queen bee can repopulate an entire colony but survives on royal jelly. If you remove the royal jelly, the queen bee dies and the entire colony of invasive Africanized honey bees can be removed. Th22-derived IL-22 is the royal jelly.
Advertisement

Th22 is a subset of a type of immune cell called T-cells. Typically, T-cells are the soldiers of the immune system, killing off tumor cells. In the case of colon cancer, the researchers found, Th22 acts as a tumor helper, actually supporting the cells in becoming able to renew - one of the hallmarks of cancer stem cells.

The researchers discovered that an epigenetic factor called DOT1L is regulated by IL-22, contributing to the cells developing stem cell properties. High levels of DOT1L in patient tumor samples were tied to shorter survival. The researchers suggest DOT1L may be a marker for colon cancer progression, and that this pathway could potentially be targeted in new colon cancer treatments.

The researchers are now looking at potential drugs that might target this process directly. No specific therapies are currently available.

Tumor immunology and immunotherapy has become a hot research topic recently. Science named it the breakthrough of the year in 2013. Zou''s group has been among the pioneers in understanding how the immune system plays a role in cancer.

The study was led by Ilona Kryczek, Yanwei Lin and Nisha Nagarsheth. Results appear online in the journal Immunity.



Source: Newswise
Advertisement

Advertisement
Advertisement

Recommended Reading

Latest Research News

 New Insights into How the Immune System Responds to Spinal-Cord Injuries
New study findings delineate how aging affects the immune response following Spinal cord injury (SCI) and highlight the participation of the spinal cord meninges in repair.
Nearsightedness: Atropine Eye Drops may Slow Progression in Kids
A recent clinical trial suggests that the first medication therapy to reduce the progression of nearsightedness in children could be on the way.
Autoimmune Diseases Affect One in Ten: Study
Autoimmune disorders were found to be linked to Sjogren's, systemic lupus erythematosus, and systemic sclerosis.
Remarkable Journey of Transforming Lives With Brain Pacemaker
Successful brain pacemaker implantation has helped a 51year old Parkinson's disease patient to revitalize her quality of life.
What Are the Effects of Healthy Lifestyle on Osteoarthritis?
Recent recommendations on lifestyle behaviors to prevent progression of rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases revealed.
View All
This site uses cookies to deliver our services.By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Cookie Policy, Privacy Policy, and our Terms of Use  Ok, Got it. Close
×

Colon Cancer Stem Cells Fueled by Immune Cells Personalised Printable Document (PDF)

Please complete this form and we'll send you a personalised information that is requested

You may use this for your own reference or forward it to your friends.

Please use the information prudently. If you are not a medical doctor please remember to consult your healthcare provider as this information is not a substitute for professional advice.

Name *

Email Address *

Country *

Areas of Interests