Researchers in Canada, led by senior scientist John Dick, discovered that switching off a gene in the cancer stem cells of colon cancer makes them unable to renew themselves. John Dick and his team of researchers conducted the study of cancer stem cells which ran a series of pre-clinical experiments where they replicated human colon cancer in mice. By doing this the researchers were able to find out more about targeting the cancer stem cells. Cancer stem cells are cells that can differentiate into all the types of cell that are in a tumor. The team found that the gene BMI-1 drives self renewal, proliferation, and survival in colon cancer stem cells. With this finding the researchers were able to block the gene in the mice by using a small molecule inhibitor. Dick states, "When we blocked the BMI-1 pathway, the stem cells were unable to self-renew, which resulted in long-term and irreversible impairment of tumor growth. In other words, the cancer was permanently shut down". This is a great discovery and could possibly treat many colorectal cancer patients in the future. I foud this article very interesting and I wonder how they would block the gene in humans. Needless to say this new information is a step in the right firection and can lead to bigger and better things.
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