The blood cancer 'steals' parts of surrounding healthy bone marrow cells to thrive. This finding could help form new approaches to cancer treatment in the future.
Researchers at the University of East Anglia (UEA), funded by the Rosetrees Trust and The Big C Charity, found that healthy bone marrow stromal cells were made to transfer their power-generating mitochondria to neighboring cancer cells, effectively 'recharging' the acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and supporting the leukaemia to grow.
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the cancer of white blood cells characterized by excess lymphoblasts. It is the most common of all childhood cancers and can be fatal in weeks if left untreated.
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‘Cancer cell itself drives transfer by increasing oxidative stress in the neighbouring non-malignant donor cells.’
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AML has been found to act in a parasitic way by first generating oxygen-deprived conditions in the bone marrow which then stimulates the transfer of healthy mitochondria from the non-cancerous cells to the leukaemia cells.
The study, published on the cover of the journal Blood also identified how and why the mitochondria are transferred and discusses the potential impact this could have on future treatment and study of cancer.
![Blood Cancer Treatment Outcome Depends on Genetic Make Up of Proteins]( "Blood Cancer Treatment Outcome Depends on Genetic Make Up of Proteins")
The genetic make-up can impact the activity of the immune system and the body's ability to fight cancer.
Dr Stuart Rushworth from UEA's Norwich Medical School said: "Our results provide a first in the study of cancer mitochondrial transfer mechanism. We have clearly shown that the cancer cell itself drives transfer by increasing oxidative stress in the neighbouring non-malignant donor cells.
"Moreover, mitochondria which move from the bone marrow stromal cells to the AML blasts are functionally active, showing that the AML blast is using this biological phenomenon to its metabolic advantage."
An enzyme found in the AML cell membrane was shown to be responsible for creating the conditions necessary for mitochondrial transfer to occur. Researchers established that the enzyme called NOX-2 generated superoxide which drives this transfer. The transfer takes place through AML-derived tunnelling nanotubes (TNTs) which link the cancer cells directly to the surrounding healthy cells.
Furthermore by inhibiting NOX-2, researchers showed a reduction in mitochondrial transfer took place which limited how much energy the AML cells could generate and resulted in slower cancer growth.
Dr Rushworth said: "It was not previously known what stimulates mitochondrial transfer in AML or any cancer, and determination of the controlling stimulus is an essential first step if this biological function is to be exploited therapeutically in the future."
Source: Eurekalert
Blood Cancer Treatment Outcome Depends on Genetic Make Up of Proteins
The genetic make-up can impact the activity of the immune system and the body's ability to fight cancer.
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Dr Stuart Rushworth from UEA's Norwich Medical School said: "Our results provide a first in the study of cancer mitochondrial transfer mechanism. We have clearly shown that the cancer cell itself drives transfer by increasing oxidative stress in the neighbouring non-malignant donor cells.
"Moreover, mitochondria which move from the bone marrow stromal cells to the AML blasts are functionally active, showing that the AML blast is using this biological phenomenon to its metabolic advantage."
An enzyme found in the AML cell membrane was shown to be responsible for creating the conditions necessary for mitochondrial transfer to occur. Researchers established that the enzyme called NOX-2 generated superoxide which drives this transfer. The transfer takes place through AML-derived tunnelling nanotubes (TNTs) which link the cancer cells directly to the surrounding healthy cells.
Furthermore by inhibiting NOX-2, researchers showed a reduction in mitochondrial transfer took place which limited how much energy the AML cells could generate and resulted in slower cancer growth.
Dr Rushworth said: "It was not previously known what stimulates mitochondrial transfer in AML or any cancer, and determination of the controlling stimulus is an essential first step if this biological function is to be exploited therapeutically in the future."
Source: Eurekalert
Tumor Suppressor Protein Promotes Deadly Form of Blood Cancer
The interaction between FLT3 mutations and RUNX1 activity in the induction of acute myeloid leukemia, was explored in the study.
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 Bone Marrow Aging Linked to Aging of Blood Cell Forming Stem CellsAging of the section of the bone marrow where hematopoietic stem cells are formed are found to cause aging of these stem cells. | Advertisement
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