29/09/2011

A team of researchers from Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR) has identified the mechanism used by cancer stem cells to protect against external attacks, the establishment of mechanisms of resistance and prevent differentiation to preserve its ability pluripotent, the ability to become any cell type and also used to turn into different types of tumors in multiple locations. These stem cells use cell conveyors as 'bulletproof shields' against toxic substances and against, for example, chemotherapy.Cancer treatment in general and certain specific tumors has changed dramatically in recent years. It has gone from having only very low nonspecific drugs with huge side effects, to have a therapeutic battery of over 10,000 different antineoplastic drugs. The survival of those affected by the disease has also changed dramatically, becoming almost a chronic disease in individual cases. Although in oncology there have been many scientific successes that have led to small and large developments, one of the limiting factors is the emergence of resistance to useful drugs for the treatment of certain tumors.It is in this field in which they are intensively working for years Dr. Jordi Petriz and his research team of stem cells and cancer at the Research Unit in Biomedicine and Translational and Pediatric Oncology at VHIR. With flow cytometry and their long experience in this field, Dr. Petriz team has become a pioneer in the detection of tumor stem cells, which according to some hypotheses are responsible for developing primary tumors and to decide on metastasis.