Scientists hail 'extraordinary' breakthrough on stem cells

Published on Monday 30 August 2010 14:10

Scientists have identified and isolated adult mammary stem cells in mice for the first time, in a breakthrough that could lead to cancer victims being able to grow back breast tissue, writes Angus Howarth.

The long-term implications of the research may include the use of such cells to regenerate breast tissue, providing a better understanding of the role of adult stem cells in breast cancer development, and helping to develop potential new targets for anti-cancer drugs.

Dr Larry Rohrschneider, who led the study team at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Centre in Seattle in the United States, said: "Until now, we have not been able to identify stem cells in mammary tissue.

"They have never been detected before with such specificity.

"It is extraordinary. You can see these green stem cells under the microscope in their pure, natural state."

Fellow researcher Dr Lixia Bai said: "We have found that those transplanted green stem cells can generate new mammary tissue, and this tissue can produce milk, just like normal mammary epithelial cells.

"Identification of the exact stem cell and its location is the first critical and fundamental step toward understanding the regulatory mechanisms of these important cells."

In addition to potential clinical applications regarding tissue regeneration, the researchers see these isolated stem cells as a window to better understanding of how normal stem cells can become cancer stem cells.

Cancer stem cells are thought to be responsible for tumour initiation, growth, metastasis, therapy resistance and disease relapse.

The Seattle team's findings were published in the latest issue of the journal Genes And Development.