Cancer cells communicate with each other and this language has been deciphered for the first time by new research that offers new hope
Don't store avocado like this: it's dangerousLe tumor celli communicate with each other and this language has been deciphered for the first time by new research, conducted by British Cancer Reesearch and by Christopher Tape of University College London.
The new technique developed by the scientists aims to understand how millions of individual cells communicate with each other. To do this, tissue-grown mini tumors known as organoids were examined.
For the first time, the technique quickly scanned every single cell of an organoid, looking for the presence of specific signaling molecules - messages the cells send to their neighbors, telling them how to behave.
Dr. Chris Tape, lead researcher of the UCL study, explained:
“Organoids are already revolutionizing cancer research by allowing us to test whether new experimental drugs are effective on realistic models of tumors. Most importantly, this new technique helps scientists understand why a treatment works or not by revealing in unprecedented detail how cells talk to each other. "
To listen to cancer cells, the team developed organoids in the laboratory. These are self-organized 3D structures made up of cancer cells along with other cell types, such as immune cells and connective tissue. They mimic the behavior of cancer in the human body much more precisely than cells grown in vitro.
At that point, they modified a technique called mass cytometry which is used to detect and analyze protein molecules. The organoids were split into single cells, then antibodies combined with heavy metal atoms were added. Antibodies are proteins that selectively bind to certain cancer signaling molecules. Using magnetic fields as well, they tested this technique in intestinal cancer cells.
The result exceeded expectations. They were able to di detect 28 signaling molecules simultaneously, through 6 different types of cells, in over 1 million of them alike.
Understanding how cells communicate could reveal exactly how tumors are able to evade the immune system and become resistant to treatments.
This would allow scientists to develop new, more effective drugs and select the best treatment for each individual patient, first testing it on a miniature-sized replica of the tumor.
It is a technique still in the early stages of development but offers new hope for the future.
Sources of reference: Eurekalert, Nature Methods
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