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Fully Differentiated Cells Can Be Reprogrammed...
Fully mature, differentiated B cells can be reprogrammed to an
embryonic-stem-cell-like state, without the use of an egg according to
a study published in the April 18 issue of Cell.
New Type Of Drug Shrinks Primary Breast Cancer Tumors Significantly...
A drug that targets the cell surface receptors that play an important
role in many types of cancer can bring about significant tumour
regression in breast cancer after only six weeks of use, a scientist
told the 6th European Breast Cancer Conference (EBCC-6). Dr. Angel
Rodriguez, from the Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College
of Medicine, Houston, USA, said that the work demonstrated for the
first time that the tyrosine kinase inhibitor lapatinib could decrease
tumour-causing breast cancer stem cells in the primary breast cancers
of women receiving neoadjuvant treatment (treatment given before the
primary surgery for the disease).
The recently popular South African red Rooibos tea also falls within the herbal tea or tisane category. "Red Rooibos tea is not really tea as it is not derived from the Camellia plant," Dr. Balentine said. They do not contain the same beneficial flavonoid compounds as found in black and green teas. In fact, Dr. Balentine said that "no scientific evidence yet has shown the health benefits of red Rooibos tea."
Although tisane does not contain as any polyphenols, it does promote other various health qualities such as relaxation and calming effects.
The recently popular South African red Rooibos tea also falls within the herbal tea or tisane category. "Red Rooibos tea is not really tea as it is not derived from the Camellia plant," Dr. Balentine said. They do not contain the same beneficial flavonoid compounds as found in black and green teas. In fact, Dr. Balentine said that "no scientific evidence yet has shown the health benefits of red Rooibos tea."
Although tisane does not contain as any polyphenols, it does promote other various health qualities such as relaxation and calming effects.
Ovarian Cancer Stem Cells Identified, Characterized And Cloned
Researchers at Yale School of Medicine have identified, characterized
and cloned ovarian cancer stem cells and have shown that these stem
cells may be the source of ovarian cancer's recurrence and its
resistance to chemotherapy.
"These results bring us closer to more effective and targeted treatment for epithelial ovarian cancer, one of the most lethal forms of cancer," said Gil Mor, M.D., associate professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences at Yale School of Medicine.
Mor presented his findings recently at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Meeting in San Diego, California.
Cancerous tumors are made up of cells that are both cancerous and non-cancerous. Within cancerous cells, there is a further subclass referred to as cancer stem cells, which can replicate indefinitely.
"Present chemotherapy modalities eliminate the bulk of the tumor cells, but cannot eliminate a core of these cancer stem cells that have a high capacity for renewal," said Mor, who is also a member of the Yale Cancer Center. "Identification of these cells, as we have done here, is the first step in the development of therapeutic modalities."
Mor and colleagues isolated cells from 80 human samples of either peritoneal fluid or solid tumors. The cancer stem cells that were identified were positive for traditional cancer stem cell markers including CD44 and MyD88. These cells also showed a high capacity for repair and self-renewal.
The isolated cells formed tumors 100 percent of the time. Within those tumors, 10 percent of the cells were positive for cancer stem cell marker CD44, while 90 percent were CD44 negative.
Mor and his team were able to isolate and clone the ovarian cancer stem cells. They found that these cells were highly resistant to conventional chemotherapy while the non-cancer stem cells responded to treatment. "Isolating and cloning these cells will lead to development of new treatments to target and eliminate the cancer stem cells and hopefully prevent recurrence," said Mor.
"These results bring us closer to more effective and targeted treatment for epithelial ovarian cancer, one of the most lethal forms of cancer," said Gil Mor, M.D., associate professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences at Yale School of Medicine.
Mor presented his findings recently at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Meeting in San Diego, California.
Cancerous tumors are made up of cells that are both cancerous and non-cancerous. Within cancerous cells, there is a further subclass referred to as cancer stem cells, which can replicate indefinitely.
"Present chemotherapy modalities eliminate the bulk of the tumor cells, but cannot eliminate a core of these cancer stem cells that have a high capacity for renewal," said Mor, who is also a member of the Yale Cancer Center. "Identification of these cells, as we have done here, is the first step in the development of therapeutic modalities."
Mor and colleagues isolated cells from 80 human samples of either peritoneal fluid or solid tumors. The cancer stem cells that were identified were positive for traditional cancer stem cell markers including CD44 and MyD88. These cells also showed a high capacity for repair and self-renewal.
The isolated cells formed tumors 100 percent of the time. Within those tumors, 10 percent of the cells were positive for cancer stem cell marker CD44, while 90 percent were CD44 negative.
Mor and his team were able to isolate and clone the ovarian cancer stem cells. They found that these cells were highly resistant to conventional chemotherapy while the non-cancer stem cells responded to treatment. "Isolating and cloning these cells will lead to development of new treatments to target and eliminate the cancer stem cells and hopefully prevent recurrence," said Mor.