Salute e Benessere
ACTREC Researchers Show Cancer Treatments May be Promoting its Spread
In a step towards these efforts, Prof. Indraneel Mittra from the Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC), India , has shed light on what causes metastasis.
Prof. Mittra's group focuses on cell-free chromatin particles (cfChPs)—small structures composed of DNA fragments and specialized proteins called histones—that are released when cells die. They have found that these particles, when released by dying cancer cells and reabsorbed by distant healthy cells, could be fundamental in the formation of new tumors.
Their findings, published in result from experiments in mice grafted with human breast cancer cells (xenografts) to induce cancer. The researchers treated the primary tumors in these mice with chemotherapy, localized radiotherapy, or surgery and then searched for the presence of human DNA and human proteins in the mice's brains. " " remarks Prof. Mittra.
The researchers then tested whether blocking the effects of the cfChPs would change the results. As expected, the concentration of human DNA and oncoproteins in the mice's brain cells dropped significantly in mice that were treated with a cfChP-deactivating agent.
This study has important implications in reshaping cancer biology and treatment. Prof. Mittra concludes," "
Title: Therapeutic interventions on human breast cancer xenografts promote systemic dissemination of oncogenes
Journal:
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0298042
Dr. Indraneel Mittra
Advance Centre for Treatment Research & Education in Cancer, Tata Memorial Centre (ACTREC)
Phone: +91 (022) 2740 5000/ 6873 5000 Extn-5136
Email: indraneel.mittra@gmail.com
Website:
http://www.actrec.gov.in/pi-webpages/DrIndraneelMittra/
View original content: https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/actrec-researchers-show-cancer-treatments-may-be-promoting-its-spread-302099477.html