A white blood cell, courtesy of the LRI Electron Microscopy Unit
We recently blogged about the latest cancer stem cell breakthrough that hit the headlines – announcing that US scientists had discovered a chemical that could kill breast cancer stem cells in the lab.
There’s a good reason why cancer stem cells are causing such a stir – if scientists can unlock their secrets, it could lead to powerful new ways to hit cancer at its very roots. And that translates into a very big prize – more effective cancer treatments and improved survival for patients.
So we’re really excited to tell you about another new piece of research that Cancer Research UK is funding in this cutting-edge field – led by Professor Tessa Holyoake at the University of Glasgow.
Research into cancer stem cells is providing new clues
We often hear about stem cells in the media, from their potential to treat human disease to the ethical issues surrounding the production and use of embryonic stem cells. But what part do stem cells play in cancer research?
What are stem cells?
A stem cell is a kind of ’starter cell’ that has the potential to develop into many different cell types in the body. When a stem cell multiplies, the resulting cells either remain as stem cells or, under the right conditions, can become a type of cell with a more specialised function, such as a muscle cell, red blood cell or brain cell.
Stem cells occur naturally in the body in various places and stages during our lifetime. They can broadly be divided into two categories: embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells. Read the rest of this entry »
The headlines came after researchers in Boston, US, discovered a way to target cancer stem cells – the rogue cells that are believed to be at the heart of many cancers, which are resistant to radiotherapy and current chemotherapy drugs. Their results are published today in the journal Cell.
But what’s the story behind the headlines? And is this really ‘the end for cancer’?
There are more signs that the picture is improving. Cancer Research UK funded a third of the clinical trials that are used as evidence for the NICE (National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence) guidelines for cancer treatment, showing the impact of our research on the way that cancer patients are treated. And we’re seeing new, more effective targeted treatments starting to shine through in clinical trials.
Although we’ve highlighted our progress along the way on this blog, we thought that a run-down of some of our major achievements in 2008 would be a good way to round off the year.
In this month’s podcast we look back over a year of progress, picking out some of the research highlights of 2008, from important clinical trials to cancer stem cell discoveries. We’ll be covering more of our 2008 achievements on the blog over the next few weeks, so watch this space.
Speaking of ground-breaking research, Sir Tim Hunt talks to our roving reporter Anna Lacey about the Nobel prize-winning secrets he found lurking within sea urchins.
And Cancer Research UK’s Chief Executive Harpal Kumar talks about the charity’s new 5-year research strategy, aimed at improving cancer survival.
To listen, simply go to the podcast homepage, where you can hear the show directly through our Flash player, or click on the player below:
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Posted by Kat Arney 
Posted by Kat Arney 
Welcome to the
