Scientists determined why not all cancers are treatable
(ORDO NEWS) — Not all cancers respond well to treatment: some tumors develop resistance to various drugs. Research by the Broad Institute has helped identify the reasons for this, as well as develop more effective therapies.
Experts found that one of the reasons for the impossibility of treatment is a change in the identity of tumor cells. For example, a prostate tumor can change significantly after a series of hormone-blocking therapy sessions so that it no longer needs the hormone to grow.
As a result, many types of cells develop in the human body, which greatly complicates any therapy.
Cells with a high level of plasticity account for much of the heterogeneity that can be observed in cancers. Such cells are found in absolutely all tumors; they play an important role in the development of any oncological disease.
Based on the research, scientists were able to create some kind of “roadmap” of cell transformation.
On the map, experts have depicted “highways” and “dirt roads”. Cells, characterized by high plasticity, were in the middle of these concepts. During the development of the malignant neoplasm, plasticity increased all the time and remained unchanged throughout the entire period of growth.
Thus, at any time, the tumor can become immune to chemicals. So far, doctors are vaguely aware of what to do in such cases, but new research and then widespread practice based on them will help increase the quality of medical services.
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