Research Found Prostate Cancer’s Tissue Mutate From A Single Cell
The researchers at the Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center have discovered that prostate cancers actually originates from one single cell in the prostate and spread to other part of the body.
Cancer is due to mutation of DNA, which cause a variation in DNA base. Cancer mutations can also be in the form of copy number changes, wherein a person has an abnormal copy of genes. Those cells that do not have normal copy of genes will probably grow uncontrollably and eventually spread to different parts of the body through a process called metastasis and form a new cancerous site.
Researchers did a study for 14 years to 30 men that died from metastatic prostate cancer. Samples are taken from both the prostate and metastatic sites, dissected and analyzed. Researchers then found out and conclude that mostly of the metastatic cancer cells if not all are merely clones of one single cell from the prostate.
Because of this new finding, scientists are hoping that they can use it in determining the specific genomic features of the death causing primary cancer cells. When scientists have enough databases of cancer cells’ genetic features from different individuals and groups, physicians will now have the chance to change their method in treating cancer, making it to be more effective in treating any existing cancerous tumors.
Since it is not only the single cell origin that causes metastatic cancer, an additional research for this matter is required in order to treat the existing cancerous tumors more effectively.