Cancer Stem Cells May Be Cause Of Brain Tumors

Main Category: Cancer / Oncology
Also Included In: Stem Cell Research;  Neurology / Neuroscience;  Conferences
Article Date: 12 Dec 2007 - 1:00 PDT

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Stem cells -- popularly known as a source of biological rejuvenation -- may play harmful roles in the body, specifically in the growth and spread of cancer. First discovered in leukemia, stem cells have been located in solid tumors found in pancreatic, prostate, colon, breast and brain cancers. On Dec. 11, a symposium at the annual American Society of Hematology (ASH) meeting in Atlanta entitled "Cancer Stem Cells" addressed the topic.

Neurosurgeon-researchers from NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center are conducting ongoing research examining ways to combat brain cancer stem cells. To stave off cancer stem cell growth in the brain, Dr. John Boockvar is studying two drugs already available for cancer treatment. Preliminary results from these trials have shown that that some patients' cancers are wiped out, whereas others remain resistant. Dr. Boockvar believes that these patients' drug resistance might be due to a class of stem cells resistant to available treatments.

"Some patients' brain tumors respond to chemotherapy and some don't," says Dr. Boockvar. "We believe cancer stem cells may be the cause."

Source:

Dr. John A. Boockvar, Alvina and Willis Murphy Assistant Professor of Neurological Surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College and co-director of the Brain Tumor Research Group at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center

Notes from "Cancer Stem Cells" symposium at American Society of Hemotology (ASH) meeting, led by Dr. Andrew Schafer, chairman of medicine, NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell, and president, ASH.

NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital