Stem Cells from fat tissue may help treat mesothelioma

Human fat could be used to “to create cancer-fighting cells.,” reports Mesothelioma Help.

A study at John Hopkins University was conducted to come up with an advanced treatment that could fight glioblastoma, one of the most common types of brain tumor, in the hopes of reaching the “difficult-to-reach parts of the brain where cancer cells can hide and proliferate anew.”

The International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR), explains that “stem cells are the foundation cells for our bodies.”  Stem cells have been proven and tested helpful in the field of cancer research because of their natural capacity to self-renew, that is, they can multiply to generate more stem cells. Stem cells also have the capacity to differentiate (transform into mature, specialized cells that replenish tissues and organs). Earlier researches have been conducted to prove that there are certain cancer stem cells that trigger cancer growth because of their ability to renew and multiply.

The researchers discovered that the mesenchymal cancer cells (MSCs), a specific type of stem cell derived from the adipose tissue, or fat, are able to “home in” on cancer cells. This makes it highly probable to provide new treatments that could fight off cancer cells. The researchers called the mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), as “smart devices” given that they have this ability to detect and keep track of cancer cells, which can be very helpful in injecting drugs, nanoparticles and other treatments that could fight off cancer cells.

 “Building off our findings, we may be able to find a way to arm a patient’s own healthy cells with the treatment needed to chase down those cancer cells and destroy them. It’s truly personalized medicine,” said Alfredo Quinones-Hinojosa, M.D., professor of neurosurgery, oncology and neuroscience at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and head of the research team.

Patient-specific care is highly beneficial in addressing the mesothelioma characteristics unique to the patient. This includes the specific genetic trait, which could hasten the efficiency, efficacy and success treatment.  Since the range and severity of mesothelioma varies from one patient to another, personalized treatment is necessary to ensure survival.