[MEDIA]Primary tumours can fuel growth of other cancer cells in body: study

From:
http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2008/...y-tumours.html

Primary tumours can fuel growth of other cancer cells in body: study
Last Updated: Thursday, June 12, 2008 | 4:42 PM ET

CBC News

Primary cancer tumours can actually assist in the growth of cancer cells
elsewhere in the body, suggests new research.

Researchers from a variety of medical facilities and universities in
Massachusetts studied how breast cancer primary tumours, meaning tumours at
which cancer in the body originates, led to the growth and development of
other cancers in the body. They found the tumours did this by mobilizing
the body's bone marrow cells to feed the cells' growth.

In the study, mice were injected with human tumour cells which had been
shown to instigate cancer development, as well as human cancer cells that
seemed to be affected by these instigating cells. The passive human cells
grew very quickly into tumours when the instigating cells were present, it
was observed, and matched the primary tumours in size.

The researchers aren't sure how the primary cells harness or interfere with
the bone marrow cells. They suspect that the primary tumours release a
substance called osteopontin that plays a part in the process. This is
because women with metastatic breast cancer have elevated levels of the
substance in their bodies.

The authors say the study challenges the "prevailing view that primary
tumors suppress the growth of derived metastases," said Robert Weinberg, a
researcher at the Massachussetts Institute of Technology, in a release. "We
argue they can foster cancer's spread by activating bone marrow that is
then recruited by distant metastases."

The researchers hope further study will explain how the primary tumours
encourage the growth of distant cancer cells and allow medical
professionals to better predict the spread of cancer in other parts of the
body.

The study is to be published Friday in the journal Cell.

--
Marc Bissonnette
Looking for a new ISP? http://www.canadianisp.com
Largest ISP comparison site across Canada.

Marc Bissonnette wrote:

> From:
> http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2008/...y-tumours.html
>
>
> The researchers aren't sure how the primary cells harness or interfere with
> the bone marrow cells. They suspect that the primary tumours release a
> substance called osteopontin that plays a part in the process. This is
> because women with metastatic breast cancer have elevated levels of the
> substance in their bodies.
>
> The authors say the study challenges the "prevailing view that primary
> tumors suppress the growth of derived metastases," said Robert Weinberg, a
> researcher at the Massachussetts Institute of Technology, in a release. "We
> argue they can foster cancer's spread by activating bone marrow that is
> then recruited by distant metastases."
>
> The researchers hope further study will explain how the primary tumours
> encourage the growth of distant cancer cells and allow medical
> professionals to better predict the spread of cancer in other parts of the
> body.

And so? Deny surgery unless the primary is causing problems?
J

J <xnswex@nalid;"no> fell face-first on the keyboard. This was the
result: news:485312C2.1EF40013@execulink.com:

> Marc Bissonnette wrote:
>
>> From:
>> http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2008/...y-tumours.html
>>
>>
>> The researchers aren't sure how the primary cells harness or
>> interfere with the bone marrow cells. They suspect that the primary
>> tumours release a substance called osteopontin that plays a part in
>> the process. This is because women with metastatic breast cancer have
>> elevated levels of the substance in their bodies.
>>
>> The authors say the study challenges the "prevailing view that
>> primary tumors suppress the growth of derived metastases," said
>> Robert Weinberg, a researcher at the Massachussetts Institute of
>> Technology, in a release. "We argue they can foster cancer's spread
>> by activating bone marrow that is then recruited by distant
>> metastases."
>>
>> The researchers hope further study will explain how the primary
>> tumours encourage the growth of distant cancer cells and allow
>> medical professionals to better predict the spread of cancer in other
>> parts of the body.
>
> And so? Deny surgery unless the primary is causing problems?
> J

Where do you get that out of the article ? By my reading, it's suggesting
that the primary tumour in the body is making other Bad Things happen and
logic would suggest removal is a Good Thing. (Nods to Martha Stewart)


--
Marc Bissonnette
Looking for a new ISP? http://www.canadianisp.com
Largest ISP comparison site across Canada.

Marc Bissonnette wrote:

> J <xnswex@nalid;"no> fell face-first on the keyboard. This was the
> result: news:485312C2.1EF40013@execulink.com:
>
> > Marc Bissonnette wrote:
> >
> >> From:
> >> http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2008/...y-tumours.html
> >>
> >>
> >> The researchers aren't sure how the primary cells harness or
> >> interfere with the bone marrow cells. They suspect that the primary
> >> tumours release a substance called osteopontin that plays a part in
> >> the process. This is because women with metastatic breast cancer have
> >> elevated levels of the substance in their bodies.
> >>
> >> The authors say the study challenges the "prevailing view that
> >> primary tumors suppress the growth of derived metastases," said
> >> Robert Weinberg, a researcher at the Massachussetts Institute of
> >> Technology, in a release. "We argue they can foster cancer's spread
> >> by activating bone marrow that is then recruited by distant
> >> metastases."
> >>
> >> The researchers hope further study will explain how the primary
> >> tumours encourage the growth of distant cancer cells and allow
> >> medical professionals to better predict the spread of cancer in other
> >> parts of the body.
> >
> > And so? Deny surgery unless the primary is causing problems?
> > J
>
> Where do you get that out of the article ? By my reading, it's suggesting
> that the primary tumour in the body is making other Bad Things happen and
> logic would suggest removal is a Good Thing. (Nods to Martha Stewart)

I'm asking what the goal is.
If I read wikipedia right on osteopontin, it helps prevent osteoporosis.
J