Researchers at the Hubrecht Institute and the UMC Utrecht have detected the source of colorectal cancer in mice. Intestinal cells identified by Lgr5 protein cause intestinal tumors. The researchers describe this in the December 18 online version of the journal Nature. The results will aid in the development of new cancer medications.
Last year, researchers from the Hubrecht Institute reported the discovery of the much sought-after intestinal stem cells. These cells can be identified by the Lgr5 marker protein and are located underneath small microscopic bulges in the intestinal wall. This week, the same group reported that intestinal cancer develops from DNA damage in these Lgr5 stem cells.
The study was performed in mice, but the same genes and proteins are involved in human intestinal cancer. Professor Hans Clevers, Director of the Hubrecht Institute, led the study.
With this discovery, Clevers strengthens the notion that malignant stem cells live in tumors. These cancer stem cells continue replenishing themselves and form the growth core of a tumor. It is also possible that these cells cause metastases and that they are resistant to current forms of treatment. Different types of cancer stem cells have already been found in human colorectal and breast tumors. Clevers proposes that the treatment of cancer should focus on these cancer stem cells. Therefore it is crucial to detect the cells involved and this study provides a significant contribution to that end.