In contrast to other cultured cells,
such tumor cells can divide indefinitely and a cell line can therefore be cultured for many years.
A second surprise came when the investigators discovered that
such tumors grow more quickly in mice when cells in blood vessels surrounding the intestine were genetically modified in the same way.
The approach developed by the MGH team starts with the engineered protein, which in this case fuses an antibody fragment targeting a protein called mesothelin — expressed on the surface
of such tumors as mesothelioma, ovarian cancer and pancreatic cancer — to a protein from the tuberculosis bacteria that stimulates the activity of dendritic and other immune cells.
«We also found that the tumors developed quickly, at the time in early development that corresponds to
when such tumors develop in children with the cancer.»
Once they
find such tumor neo-antigens, as they're called, they could design other immunotherapy strategies that could target them.
«We did surgery
because such tumors are very aggressive, and without expeditious resection, it could fast become unresectable,» Liu said.
Soon such tumors were being reported from all over North America and Europe, stimulating a great deal of debate, speculation, recrimination, and investigation over the ensuing 10 years.
Called the Canakinumab Anti-inflammatory Thrombosis Outcomes Study (CANTOS) and funded by the drug giant Novartis, the trial also found fewer cases of lung cancer in those on the treatment, rekindling basic research findings hinting that the same inflammatory pathway may initiate or spur the growth
of such tumors.
However,
such tumor cells display unusual antigens that are either inappropriate for the cell type or its environment, and can thus be recognized by the body's immune system.
According to the cancer society, more than 63,000 women will be diagnosed
with such tumors this year, while about 11,000 will die from the disease.
Today,
such a tumor would be operable.
Next image: When treated with an antisense drug that specifically targets and reduces levels of Malat1,
such tumors in mice were observed to undergo a change of character.
To date, gene expression in
such tumors has been profiled using bulk transcriptome methods, providing a single transcriptome measure for what, in essence, represents many cell types.
Such tumors are generally considerably larger than the parathyroid gland.
But a recent discovery in the world of holistic medicine has shown very promising results in the reduction and destruction of
such tumors...
Fortunately, he notes,
such tumors are notably amenable to surgical removal.