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By Kate McHugh, Ivanhoe Health Correspondent
ORLANDO, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Cells in the stomachs of mice could hold the key to better understanding the development of stomach cancer.
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The discovery of stem cells in the stomach and intestines is an important first. These stem cells are not only a constant source of new cells, but they represent an important reservoir for repair of damage to the stomach caused by injury or inflammation. Also, since the stem cells are the longest-lived of the gastric cells, scientists believe they could be the only cells that live long enough to accumulate the multiple mutations that cause cancers. For these reasons, identifying and manipulating these cells have been important goals for decades.
Researchers from the University of Michigan Medical School found stem cells in the stomachs and intestines of mice in a laboratory setting. The next step is determining whether humans exhibit these same cells.
The cells seem to be located at sites where we see human cancers. Thats, in part, what makes us think its possible that these cells could give rise to these cancers, Deborah Gumucio, Ph.D., developmental biologist at the University of Michigan Medical School and senior author of the study, told Ivanhoe. Even if this type of stem cell doesnt exist in the human, studying stem cells in the mouse is going to tell us more about the development of human stomachs and the development of human cancers.
Stomach cancer is most prevalent in East Asia and Latin America. In the United States, it is estimated that more than 21,000 people will be diagnosed with stomach cancer in 2007, and more than 11,000 will die from it.
Weve never seen a stem cell in the stomach or intestine before. We know theyre there, and we can infer that theyre there from a lot of really good data that suggest there must be a stem cell behind it, but no ones ever been able to point to a cell and say, A ha! There it is, said Dr. Gumucio.
This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, which offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, click on: http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/.
SOURCE: Ivanhoe interview with Deborah Gumucio, Ph.D.; To be published in an upcoming issue of Gastroenterology
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