Study: Tumor Cells Deliver Genetic Code With Sacs In Blood
(Chicago, IL) -- Membrane-covered sacs released into the blood stream by tumor cells could lead to new cancer treatments. Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston studied patients with an aggressive form of brain cancer called glioblastoma. They found these kinds of sacs, called exosomes, in the patients' blood streams. While many types of normal cells release exosomes, researchers discovered that the ones released by the cancer cells contained proteins that create a better environment for tumors to grow. They found the exosomes from glioblastoma cells, for instance, held fragments of RNA used for cell growth, immune response and creating blood vessels. The exosomes allowed the cancer to deliver its mutated genetic material into healthy cells.
The study gives scientists a better understanding of how cancer cells interact with their environment. The genetic material within exosomes also shows what specific genetic mutations are in the tumor cells. The information contained in these tiny sacs could give the medical community more specific information about cancer cells than previous tests for cancer, like blood tests, which usually just look for elevated levels of proteins associated with cancer. Researchers hope new information about tumor cell exosomes will help doctors chose the best therapy, track a patient's response to treatment and potentially find a new way to attack cancer cells. The study appears in the journal "Nature Cell Biology." |