Bone Cancer May Be Caused by Stem Cells

Bone Cancer May Be Caused by Stem Cells

In a study suggesting that some forms of cancer are caused by stem cells gone awry, researchers at the University of Florida have identified “ a population of cells with characteristics of adult and embryonic stem cells in cultures derived from biopsies of patients' bone tumors.” A press release of the study is on EurekAlert.

In one form of bone cancer, osteosarcoma, radical surgery and chemotherapy together still only effected a cure rate of 65%. (Osteosarcoma is the most common form of bone cancer in children between the ages of 10 and 20.) The researchers decided to look at why the cancer was so aggressive, so they looked for stem cells in the tumors. One theory of stem cells’ role in cancer, based on prior studies which have shown possible connections, is that the stem cells stimulate the growth of the tumor, so they must be eradicated or the tumors will recur. Conventional chemotherapy is targeted at the growing cancer cells and may not affect the stem cells.

A researcher not involved in the study said, “Further work needs to be done to determine what the role of cells of this nature is in cancer biology - whether they are the cells of origin, the cause of cancer or the effect of the environment generated by a tumor.” There’s more and more scientific research showing a link between stem cells and cancer, and work needs to go forward.