Where does cancer begin
The lethality of cancer cells is explained
Researchers from the University of Cambridge have for the first time identified a primary cancer cell, in other words, a cell from which a malignant tumor grows – basal cell carcinoma. Scientists also managed to determine the further chain of events leading to the growth of the neoplasm. Article by Sánchez-Danés et al. Defining the clonal dynamics leading to mouse skin tumour initiation is published in the journal Nature.
Skin cells are constantly being replaced by new ones, which appear due to the activity of stem cells. However, due to DNA damage or activation of specific genes, this process may be disrupted. As a result, uncontrolled tissue growth occurs. In some cases, the tumors that have arisen may be benign, in others they may lead to secondary foci (metastases). However, until now, it was not known exactly how the stem cells or precursor cells of the skin turn into cancer.
Scientists have activated an oncogene – a gene that promotes the appearance of a tumor – in stem cells and immature skin cells. It turned out that progenitor cells can develop into benign tumors, and stem cells can develop into malignant ones. For their research, physiologists used transgenic mice, in which it was easy to turn on the oncogene. A fluorescent label was additionally attached to the latter, which made it possible to track the progeny of the cell where the oncogene was activated.
In the picture from the University of Cambridge press release Where did it all go wrong? Scientists identify ‘cell of origin’ in skin cancers green is a basal cell carcinoma that has developed from a single malignant cell – VM.
Analyzing the number of fluorescent cells using mathematical modeling, the scientists showed that only the offspring of mutant stem cells were able to overcome the mechanism known as apoptosis – programmed cell death – and continued to divide uncontrollably, forming basal cell carcinoma.
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11.07.2016