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Reverting tumour cells to cancer stem cells on a gel network

10 May 2021

Stem the Flow

If you snip just the sprouting head off an invasive weed in your garden, it’ll grow back with a vengeance. Countering cancer can be the same, because of cancer stem cells: resistant, hard to spot cells with the potential to flourish into fresh tumours. These are a major target for anti-cancer drugs, but occur in small numbers so are hard to find and tackle. Researchers have now made a gel, composed of a network of chemicals and water, that encourages cancer cells to revert back to these stem cells. Cancer cells placed on the gel formed spherical structures (video, brain cancer cells) and produced molecules associated with cancer stem cells. The study then looked at this population of stem cells, identifying their properties and trialling new treatments, suggesting the gel could be used to help develop personalised treatments for particular cancers, and cut cancer off at the root.

Written by Anthony Lewis

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BPoD stands for Biomedical Picture of the Day. Managed by the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences until Jul 2023, it is now run independently by a dedicated team of scientists and writers. The website aims to engage everyone, young and old, in the wonders of biology, and its influence on medicine. The ever-growing archive of more than 4000 research images documents over a decade of progress. Explore the collection and see what you discover. Images are kindly provided for inclusion on this website through the generosity of scientists across the globe.

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