Stem cells fend off lung cancer
Cancer vaccine harnesses similarities between embryos and tumours.
Embryonic stem cells, the controversial and versatile cells that seem able to do just about anything, have now expanded their repertoire into cancer prevention. A vaccine made from these cells shields mice against developing lung cancer under conditions thought to mimic the effects of smoking.
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Comments
This was one of the million proofs that stems cells are indeed the future. With thorough experimantation and analysis of the data and of course with constant research, side- effects and long term dangers can be eliminated. We have the right to be optimistic about the future. However, under which circumstances can and must we proceed on the application of these practice on man? And really, in emergency cases, should we be restricted by the bioethical aspect of Genetics instead of saving a human life?
Posted by: Zinovia Chatzidimitriadou | November 11, 2006 05:05 PM
The experiments done by Dr. Eaton are very interesting. I would like to share a somewhat similar observation we made with cervical cancer xenografts. We used CaSki cell line, which is the best representative of human cervical cancers. (Veeraghavalu et al., J. Virol. 2004, 2005, Subramanyam and Krishna, Virology, 2006, Ramdass et al., Gynaec Oncology, 2006 in press).
In a very preliminary experiment, C-kit+ (a marker of hematopoietic stem cells) and C-kit– cells from mouse bone marrow were subcutaneously co-injected with CaSki cells in nude mice. These were done in ratios of 1:5 and 1:10 of C-kit to CaSki cells. Since Hematopoietic Stem Cells have been implicated in aiding tumor neo-angiogenesis, we hoped to see more angiogenesis in the C-kit+/CaSki combination. Surprisingly, no tumors were seen in any of the 20 nude mice injected with either C-kit+ or C-kit– cells. However CaSki cells alone formed well-developed tumors in the same time period. Repetitions are underway. It is interesting to see that Dr. Eaton gets similar results with Embryonic Stem cells and lung cancer xenografts.
I look forward to comments.
Jeevisha Bajaj.
Posted by: Jeevisha Bajaj | November 13, 2006 06:58 AM
I am quite enthusiastic about the findings by Eaton and co-workers. We just published that dendritic cell vaccination against cancer stem-like cells from glioblastoma (glioblastoma neurospheres) is much more effective than vaccination against the non stem component of the tumor (Pellegatta et al, Cancer Res, November 1, 2006). The findings by Eaton encourage to continue the work in this direction!
Posted by: Gaetano Finocchiaro | November 13, 2006 05:54 PM
I am just wondering about the possibility that if you use nude mice and inject stem cells I.V. won't you recreate immunsystem and creat an immuncompetent mice? That will definitely stop tumour engrafment and growth.
Posted by: khomicsko | November 13, 2006 07:06 PM
This is a small and trivial step towards nothing. The truth is that adult stem cells alread CURE diseases. ESC do not. This is a fact. No IRB in their right mind would inject a living human being with ESC after what happened with the Parkinson's Disease experiments. There are too many problems with rejections, chromosomal anomalies and abherrant tumor growths. I will be more excited when Nature publishes with equality the findings of ESCs and Adult Stem Cells.
Posted by: Ron Auer | November 13, 2006 10:22 PM
I will like to add few points on the comments published by Khomicsko and Ron Auer on 13th Novemeber. First no one will trasplant stem cell into the humans simply because they could cause tumors. Rather proteins involved in the protection of lung tumors will have to be identified and tested in animal models to recapitulate the protective phenotype. This will avoid all the side effects that Mr. Ron Auer have mentioned.
Secondly, regarding khomicsko comment I dont understand how nude mice would create a immune competent mice from injected stem cells if they don't have the thymus at the first place!.
Posted by: S.Hussain Imam Abidi | December 23, 2006 01:45 AM