Posted on 01/14/2019 7:17:43 PM PST by BenLurkin
A method for fooling breast cancer cells into fat cells has been discovered by researchers from the University of Basel. The team were able to transform EMT-derived breast cancer cells into fat cells in a mouse model of the disease – preventing the formation of metastases. The proof-of-concept study was published in the journal Cancer Cell.
Malignant cells can rapidly respond and adapt to changing microenvironmental conditions, by reactivating a cellular process called epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), enabling them to alter their molecular properties and transdifferentiate into a different type of cell (cellular plasticity).
Senior author of the study Gerhard Christofori, professor of biochemistry at the University of Basel, commented in a recent press release: "The breast cancer cells that underwent an EMT not only differentiated into fat cells, but also completely stopped proliferating.”
Cancer cells can exploit EMT – a process that is usually associated with the development of organs during embryogenesis – in order to migrate away from the primary tumor and form secondary metastases. Cellular plasticity is linked to cancer survival, invasion, tumor heterogeneity and resistance to both chemo and targeted therapies. In addition, EMT and the inverse process termed mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET) both play a role in a cancer cell’s ability to metastasize.
Using mouse models of both murine and human breast cancer the team investigated whether they could therapeutically target cancer cells during the process of EMT – whilst the cells are in a highly plastic state. When the mice were administered Rosiglitazone in combination with MEK inhibitors it provoked the transformation of the cancer cells into post-mitotic and functional adipocytes (fat cells). In addition, primary tumor growth was suppressed and metastasis was prevented.
(Excerpt) Read more at technologynetworks.com ...
“i had cancer. now i just have bigger boobs.”
Plastic surgeons everywhere are pausing....
“Does this cancer make me look fat?”
That there is the epitome’ of “win-win”.
CC
Of interest...
Thanks for the post. Interesting approach.
Thanks for the ping.
Interesting approach with apparent long term results.
Hopefully it will be applicable to other cancer types.
Now, that, would be even more exciting.
Logical then to to check if environmental stimulus can create cancer from fat cells.
While this is fascinating, the trap with curing cancer or making cancer into a benign chronic condition allowing a long, healthy life is that the only research EVER goes into patentable drugs. It is sometimes practically illegal to study anything other than chemical patentable drugs. It’s a scam that doesn’t allow for freedom in science. Science shouldn’t be limited but drug companies run medical schools and have hold over the most powerful governments of the world as well.
It’s frustrating. All the money donated to cancer research is limited to pharma drugs only.
Cancer, heart disease and diabetes are convenient profit paths for megacorporations: They require no scientific isolation of causation.
Think of it this way:
You take your car to the mechanic. It’s making a noise. He tells you that you need to bring it back weekly for “specialized treatment” - for a fee (obviously) - to keep it running and prevent it from becoming a worthless scrap metal pile on which you continue to make payments.
Modern medicine, defined in the post-industrial age.
Until modern medicine - aka “science” - chooses to be scientific about solving medical problems such as cancer, there will NEVER be a “cure”...only more ‘treatments’.
There IS a cure for cancer, but I’m going to be selfish: Buy my book after it’s published. Don’t like it? Bite me.
Maybe starting tomorrow.
Good.
Interesting info. There’s so much out there that it makes your hair hurt to consider it all. Since mine in 2014, I just play the waiting game and hope/pray for the best.
I lean toward stress being a major trigger. That’s hard to control when your life is off kilter.
OH good, we can solve cancer and have a heart attack instead.
How nice it must be to appear so ignorant of science and the pharmaceutical industry. I am living proof of a cure, as I am over 5 years of being cancer-free following diagnosis and treatments for head and neck cancer.
There is no single cure for "cancer," because cancer is not a singular disease. There are many cancers. Some, we know and can treat very well; others are more insidious, and cannot yet be treated.
Pharmaceutical development and medical R&D is some of the most rigorous and scientific research that I've ever seen. For you to say otherwise is a fallacy.
Got bias? Wouldn’t you prefer that your kids AVOID getting cancer rather than it being a foregone conclusion?
Talk about fallacy...you ought to go both barrels and do ad hominem, too.
I hope so, too.
It seems we hear about so many new potential treatments, but then too often we never hear of them again.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.