Deciphering cancer plasticity:Insights from MSK research

Apr 10 2024Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center About 90% of deaths from cancer are a result of metastasis -; that is, from cancer's ability to spread from an initial primary tumor to seed new tumors throughout the body, often in the lungs, liver, and brain.

"It's not genetic mutations that are critical here, but the ability to access gene programs that normally are associated with other cell types -; including early developmental and embryonic programs that should not be accessed by adult cells," Dr. Pe'er said in a recent interview. "We call this ability for cells to run new programs 'plasticity.' So cancer doesn't reinvent the wheel; it exploits gene programs that exist for other biological purposes.

The study found that primary tumor cells largely run programs still associated with intestinal cells, while metastases often shed their heritage as intestinal cells and take on the characteristics of squamous cells or of neuroendocrine cells, which helps them invade and survive in new tissue contexts and makes them more resistant to treatment. The team also found that chemotherapy exacerbates these transformations. The findings were published as a preprint on bioRxiv in August 2023.

Plasticity in pancreatic cancer The second study Dr. Pe'er presented looked at about a dozen metastases collected from a single patient with pancreatic cancer, who donated their body for research under MSK's Last Wish Program. A collaboration with physician-scientist Christine Iacobuzio-Donahue, MD, PhD, Director of the David M.

For example, the research showed that cells that metastasize to the peritoneum -; the tissue that lines the abdominal cavity -; are able to adapt their metabolism to take advantage of the lipid-rich environment and exploit it as an energy source, she notes.

Source: Healthcare Press (healthcarepress.net)

Metastasis Brain Cell Chemotherapy Clinical Trial Colorectal Colorectal Cancer Gene Genes Genetic Laboratory Liver Lungs Organoids Pancreatic Cancer Research Technology Tumor

United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Deciphering the role of bitter and astringent polyphenols in promoting well-beingPolyphenols are powerful plant metabolites known for their antioxidant properties, offering potential health benefits and protection against various diseases. With over 8,000 identified varieties, these substances are found in plentiful amounts in various fruits, vegetables, tea, and coffee.
Source: medical_xpress - 🏆 101. / 51 Read more »

AI language model provides new insights into the development of brain diseasesA new AI language model identifies clinical symptoms in medical summaries and links them to brain tissue from donors of the Netherlands Brain Bank. This yields new insights into the development of individual disease progression and contributes to a better understanding of common misdiagnoses of brain diseases.
Source: medical_xpress - 🏆 101. / 51 Read more »

Mapping the heart's cellular blueprint: New insights into cardiac structure and disease repairResearchers unveil the complex cellular architecture of the heart using advanced RNA sequencing and imaging techniques, shedding light on the intricate organization of heart cells and their developmental pathways.
Source: NewsMedical - 🏆 19. / 71 Read more »

New insights into genetic mechanisms could improve treatment of liver fibrosisThe liver is not only the largest internal organ but also vital for human life as a metabolic center. It also possesses remarkable self-healing powers: even when large portions are removed, such as during surgery, they quickly regenerate in healthy individuals.
Source: medical_xpress - 🏆 101. / 51 Read more »

Whole-brain imaging data provides insights into roundworm neural activityJoint research led by Yu Toyoshima and Yuichi Iino of the University of Tokyo has demonstrated individual differences in and successfully extracted commonalities from the whole-brain activity of roundworms.
Source: NewsMedical - 🏆 19. / 71 Read more »

Study of twins provides new insights into immune defense in the wombNiklas Björkström's research group at the Department of Medicine, Huddinge (MedH) has conducted a study that provides new knowledge about how the immune system in the uterus works. This knowledge contributes to a better understanding of how pregnancy complications such as pre-eclampsia occur.
Source: medical_xpress - 🏆 101. / 51 Read more »