Found a fluroescentes cells responsible for development of … – Reuters

Madrid. (EP) .- Researchers at the National Cancer Research Centre ( CNIO ), led by Irene Miranda, Bruno Sainz and Christopher Heeschen, have discovered and characterized a New specific marker cancer stem cells : riboflavin or vitamin B2, Responsible Development tumors .

This is a pigment that emits green fluorescence as a result of their accumulation in intracellular vesicles. This property will light for tracing, isolation and subsequent purification without the need for antibodies or other more complex techniques and higher cost.

The results have been published in the journal Nature Methods . “The discovery of this new marker is a breakthrough because it identifies tumor stem cells are more invasive and chemoresistant. Autofluorescence of these cells allow tracking them in an easy, simple and cheap way, and to study the origin of the chemoresistance of tumors, “said Miranda.

Why tumor stem cells accumulate vitamin B2?

In particular, the discovery has been made in several tumor types, including samples from patients with pancreatic, liver, colon and lung cancer, raises the question “why tumor stem cells accumulate vitamin B2? “.

A question that has been answered by the experts of the CNIO to show that this accumulation increased ABCG2 protein responsible for transporting vitamin is due to the within intracellular vesicles that give light to the cells.

But, no reason why this phenomenon occurs is known. However, experts believe that the autofluorescence might pursue personalized medicine of the future and the development of more effective cancer treatments.

“From now on autofluorescence can isolate cells from a biopsy and sensitivity test a panel already marketed or experimental drug. Thus we accelerate the identification of new drugs or combinations that are able to kill cancer stem cells of the particular patient “experts explained.

The study was funded by the European Union, the Institute of Health Carlos III, Ministry of Science and Innovation of the Government of Spain and Fundación ‘La Caixa’.