1/6/2009
Richard Gilbertson shows that normal stem cells can act as tumor sources
Richard Gilbertson shows that normal stem cells can act as tumor sources
December 2008 – NBTS-funded researcher Richard Gilbertson, MD, PhD, and his colleagues at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital have answered a central question in cancer biology: whether normal stem cells can give rise to tumors.
A key question in cancer biology has been whether so-called "cancer stem cells" arise from normal stem cells or from more mature cancerous cells that have reacquired the characteristics of undifferentiated stem cells.
"The idea that cancers might arise from mutant stem cells is an attractive one, but until now the link between normal and cancer stem cells in solid tissues … was not known," said Dr. Gilbertson. "Our work provides the first direct link between normal solid tissue stem cells and cancer."
Dr. Gilbertson's team proved this link in intestinal cells. The characteristic protein that marks these intestinal cells – and which was key to proving that normal stem cells can be transformed into cancer cells – is Prominin 1, or CD133, a protein that may be a useful marker to trace cancer stem cells in the brain, as well as the kidney, pancreas and other tissues.
In addition to providing insights into the origins of cancer, the work might help scientists identify more effective treatments. "If we could kill these stem cells," Dr. Gilbertson explained, "we might be able to prevent relapse. Understanding the link between normal and cancerous stem cells should help us target the latter while preserving the former."
Dr. Gilbertson was an NBTS grant recipient in 2006-2007. His NBTS-funded project focused on ependymoma stem cells and was supported in part by the Sydney Schlobohm Leadership Chair of Research.
Scientific article from Nature, published online 17 December 2008: http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nature07589.html.
This article adapted from a press release from St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, previously housed at: http://sev.prnewswire.com/health-care-hospitals/20081217/DC5315717122008-1.html.
