Scientists will be able to "turn off" cancer cells

Biologists found in cancer cells specific "switch" - the growth of tumors can be suspended with the help of medicines. Experts suggest that will be able to not only stop the progression of the disease, but also to learn how to treat her.

"We thought, when cancer cells are going crazy, they just lose control. But it turns out that in fact these crazy cells retained some part of the memory of their own law-abiding state and how they behave good cells, which greatly surprised us. Our discovery is considered so serious and relevant," announced 1 of the authors of the study Anton Wellstein from the Institute of Georgetown in the United States.

It was found that cancer cells retained the ability to control their division, despite the defects in the DNA of the patient. The opening was created completely by accident. 1 academics research group in the research process for the growth of samples of tumors in test tubes revealed that cancer cells from "overcrowded" vessels many times faster penetrated into the healthy tissue of the test animals than "culture" from a relatively empty vessels. So he found a difference in the rate of growth in different conditions.

This difference was surprised biologists who immediately began to explore the paradox. They compared the content of cancer cells and found out that the cause of the slow growth of cells from "overcrowded" tubes was a manifestation of the greater activity of the protein chains Hippo, which control the size of government during the growth of the fetus in the womb.

"Hypothetically, you can do the same cancer cells hostile or peaceful, depending on whether Hippo or not. In the opinion of genetics and calm, and hostile cells are definitely the same. The only thing that was different - the activity of this metabolic cascade," said Millstein. Biologists hope that substance that activates Hippo will be applied for inhibiting the development of cancer in the early stages.

sections: Society