New techniques used to examine stem
cells have identified differences in supposedly identical pairs. The researchers at The Institute of Cancer
Research, London have found varying aspects in the molecular composition of DNA
from sister stem cells. When the body is
determining which genes to express in cells, DNA methylation, a vital role is
carried out which is to make the non-genetic different aspects of the identical
cells. This DNA methylation is thought
to be a cause for the vast differences in the molecular makings of cancerous
cells in the same tumor. If methylation
was able to be inhibited, this possibly could hinder the development of
different kinds of cancer cells in tumors and actually allow the cancer to be
treated more effectively.
This new research has implemented a
micro-dissection method to remove identical embryonic stem cells from each
other for RNA analysis of a single cell.
Using this technique they isolated and studied stem cells and found that
there were many differences between the sister cells. More primitive cells were then looked at and
the researchers noticed that they exhibited less differences than found
previously. These primitive cells had a
reduced amount of two different enzymes that were key to DNA methylation and
were capable of making sister cells that had fewer differences. Treating various kinds of cancer cells in one
tumor gives cancer the fighting edge since they can adapt and become resistant
to the drugs that are being used to combat it.
Applying this to cancer patients will effectively allow physicians to
have a more successful treatment program.
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