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-added 04/02/2012
PHILADELPHIA - Scientists from the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center may have discovered a new paradigm for
immunotherapy against cancer by priming antibodies and T cells with cancer stem cells, according to a study published in
Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.
"This is a major breakthrough in immunotherapy research because we were able to use purified cancer stem cells to generate a vaccine,
which strengthened the potency of antibodies and T cells that selectively targeted cancer stem cells," said
Qiao Li, Ph.D., a research assistant professor in the department of surgery at the University of Michigan.
Cancer stem cells are tumor cells that remain present, and ultimately resistant, after chemotherapy or radiation treatment. Scientists
disagree on whether these cells have unique properties, but those who support the uniqueness idea have argued that these cells regenerate
the tumors that lead to relapse.
Despite the similar name, cancer stem cells are distinct from embryonic stem cells, and the two avenues of research are separate.
For the current study, Li and colleagues extracted cancer stem cells from two immunocompetent mouse models and used them to prepare the vaccine.
"We found that these enriched cancer stem cells were immunogenic and far more effective as an antigen source compared with the unselected tumor
cells normally used in previous immunotherapy trials," said Li. "The mechanistic investigations found that when antibodies were primed with cancer
stem cells, they were capable of targeting cancer stem cells and conferring antitumor immunity."
The researchers also found that cytotoxic T lymphocytes harvested from cancer stem cell-vaccinated hosts were capable of killing cancer stem
cells in vitro.
Founded in 1907, the
American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) is the world's first and largest
professional organization dedicated to
advancing cancer research and its mission to prevent and cure cancer. AACR's membership includes 34,000 laboratory, translational and clinical
researchers; population scientists; other health care professionals; and cancer advocates residing in more than 90 countries. The AACR marshals
the full spectrum of expertise of the cancer community to accelerate progress in the prevention, biology, diagnosis and treatment of cancer
by annually convening more than 20 conferences and educational workshops, the largest of which is the AACR Annual Meeting with more than
18,000 attendees. In addition, the AACR publishes seven peer-reviewed scientific journals and a magazine for cancer survivors, patients and
their caregivers. The AACR funds meritorious research directly as well as in cooperation with numerous cancer organizations. As the
Scientific Partner of
Stand Up To Cancer, the AACR provides expert peer review, grants administration and scientific oversight of individual
and team science grants in cancer research that have the potential for patient benefit. The AACR actively communicates with legislators
and policymakers about the value of cancer research and related biomedical science in saving lives from cancer. For more information about the
AACR, visit
www.AACR.org.
Written by Nicole Fawcett
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