We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress
Sign In
Advertise with Us
PURITAN MEDICAL

Download Mobile App




Researchers Stress Cancer Cells for Better Treatment Options

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 10 Dec 2014
Print article
Employing metabolic stress to destroy cancer cells could create new approaches for better targeted therapies that will not hurt normal cells and have no unpleasant side effects.

Researchers from the University of Adelaide in South Australia (Adelaide) revealed that chromosomal instability, which is a major characteristic of quickly dividing cancer cells, makes them stressed and susceptible to mild metabolic disruption.

Metabolism is the normal process by which the body converts food into energy. “A common problem in treating cancers is that they don’t respond to chemotherapy, or they respond for a while, but then come back,” stated lead author Dr. Stephen Gregory, senior postdoctoral fellow with the University’s School of Molecular and Biomedical Sciences.

“One reason this happens is because a tumor is usually not made up of identical cells but rather a diverse population of cells that changes all the time, losing, and gaining chromosomes as they divide—so-called chromosomal instability. Sooner or later they change enough to be able to resist chemotherapy drugs. Our research has shown that chromosomal instability has some consequences for cells—they get stressed, and it only takes a small metabolic push to kill them.”

Traditional chemotherapy is also very toxic to all dividing cells, especially affecting cells in hair follicles, blood, and the gut lining, frequently causing hair loss, pain, and making patients unwell. “We need to find ways to target cancer cells without affecting other normal dividing cells,” said Dr. Gregory.

The researchers stimulated chromosomal instability in the fly Drosophila and discovered that the unstable cells were “on the edge” of how much stress they could endure. “This is significant because a change in metabolism is something people cope with very well normally,” said Dr. Gregory. “That means that we hope to be able to develop treatments that have no side effects on patients, but are able to kill off the unstable tumor cells that cause relapses.”

Dr. Gregory noted that this may give some support to hypotheses of alternative treatments such as going on a drastic diet. “People who have advanced cancer which isn’t responding to chemotherapy often try a range of different treatments such as a radical diet in the hope it may help,” he said. “In some situations, it may in fact work; but we hope to be able to point the way to a more targeted approach—finding the most appropriate steps for intervention in the metabolic process that will give the best results.”

The research was published October 27, 2014, in the journal Oncogene.

Related Links:

University of Adelaide in South Australia


Platinum Member
COVID-19 Rapid Test
OSOM COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test
HLX
Complement 3 (C3) Test
GPP-100 C3 Kit
New
Gold Member
Systemic Autoimmune Testing Assay
BioPlex 2200 ANA Screen with MDSS

Print article

Channels

Clinical Chemistry

view channel
Image: Reaching speeds up to 6,000 RPM, this centrifuge forms the basis for a new type of inexpensive, POC biomedical test (Photo courtesy of Duke University)

POC Biomedical Test Spins Water Droplet Using Sound Waves for Cancer Detection

Exosomes, tiny cellular bioparticles carrying a specific set of proteins, lipids, and genetic materials, play a crucial role in cell communication and hold promise for non-invasive diagnostics.... Read more

Molecular Diagnostics

view channel
Image: The study showed the blood-based cancer screening test detects 83% of people with colorectal cancer with specificity of 90% (Photo courtesy of Guardant Health)

Blood Test Shows 83% Accuracy for Detecting Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer is the second biggest cause of cancer deaths among adults in the U.S., with forecasts suggesting 53,010 people might die from it in 2024. While fewer older adults are dying from this... Read more

Hematology

view channel
Image: The Gazelle Hb Variant Test (Photo courtesy of Hemex Health)

First Affordable and Rapid Test for Beta Thalassemia Demonstrates 99% Diagnostic Accuracy

Hemoglobin disorders rank as some of the most prevalent monogenic diseases globally. Among various hemoglobin disorders, beta thalassemia, a hereditary blood disorder, affects about 1.5% of the world's... Read more

Microbiology

view channel
Image: The new platform is designed to perform blood-based diagnoses of nontuberculosis mycobacteria (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

New Blood Test Cuts Diagnosis Time for Nontuberculous Mycobacteria Infections from Months to Hours

Breathing in nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) is a common experience for many people. These bacteria are present in water systems, soil, and dust all over the world and usually don't cause any problems.... Read more

Industry

view channel
Image: These new assays are being developed for use on the recently introduced DxI 9000 Immunoassay Analyzer (Photo courtesy of Beckman Coulter)

Beckman Coulter and Fujirebio Expand Partnership on Neurodegenerative Disease Diagnostics

Beckman Coulter Diagnostics (Brea, CA, USA) and Fujirebio Diagnostics (Tokyo, Japan) have expanded their partnership focused on the development, manufacturing and clinical adoption of neurodegenerative... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2024 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.