ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

Home → Health → Diseases

Going to the root of cancer fatality: metastasis

Tibi PuiubyTibi Puiu
November 20, 2013 - Updated on November 16, 2020
in Diseases, Genetics, Health, News
A A
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterSubmit to Reddit

It’s not the cancer tumor itself that kills people, but rather the spread of cancer cells is what ultimately may bring the killing blow to patients. This is called metastasis, and oddly enough not nearly enough is known about how it works. University of Minnesota researchers have devised a pathological method for doctors to assess whether or not in lymph nodes the immune cells are winning against cancer or not. This may help predict outcomes for patients.

Metastasis is responsible for 90% death related to human solid-organ cancer. Many of the metastasizing cells  accumulate into what are called lymph nodes  – an oval-shaped organ of the immune system, distributed widely throughout the body including the armpit and stomach and linked by lymphatic vessels. In these key locations, the immune system is on full on war with cancer cells, trying to seek out the cancer and destroy it. From the lymph glands, some cancer cells manage to escape through the bloodstream and sometimes can spread into other parts of the body. Doctors typically analyze lymph nodes thoroughly because they serve as a good indicator for metastasis concentration and staging cancer.

There are many things we don’t know yet about metastasis works, however. For instance, some lymph nodes may be positive or negative for cancer cells. Oddly enough, many patients diagnosed with positive lymph nodes (filled with cancer) out live those with negative lymph nodes. University of Minnesota prostate cancer researcher Akhouri Sinha and colleagues sought to understand why some patients with positive nodes survive a long time, while others die within a few years by looking deeper in nodes after cancer cells have metastasized there.

[RELATED] Cancer cells imaged in real time

After analyzing 32 cancer-positive pelvic lymph nodes from prostate cancer patients the researchers found that in some of these nodes the immune system was doing a pretty good job – it was winning the fight against cancer. In other nodes, however, the immune system was failing at killing cancer cells. So two types of nodes suddenly surface: one type where the immune system is more vulnerable to cancer, and the other where it’s less vulnerable.

Dead and dying metastatic prostate cancer cells (round light-colored area) inside a lymph node, surrounded by purple-stained lymphocytes of the immune system. Upper left and lower right corners: degenerating metastatic cells that still make prostate-specific antigen (PSA), which stains brown.  (c) University of Minnesota
Dead and dying metastatic prostate cancer cells (round light-colored area) inside a lymph node, surrounded by purple-stained lymphocytes of the immune system. Upper left and lower right corners: degenerating metastatic cells that still make prostate-specific antigen (PSA), which stains brown. (c) University of Minnesota

The researchers hypothesize that patients whose nodes show significant cancer cell death will do better than those whose nodes show little or none because that may signal the rise of cells resistant to attack by the immune system. These patients may require more aggressive therapy.  It’s important to note that his approach can be applied to breast, lung, pancreas, colon, and other solid organ cancers.

“Our paper shows that some populations of metastatic cells are [susceptible to immune attack], and others are not,” Dr. Sinha says. “This provides a potential explanation for the observation that some patients survive longer, even with metastatic disease.”

With this in mind, the researchers suggest that cancer patients asks their pathologists to analyze their lymph nodes, through a standard procedure, to see whether or not the immune system is winning against cancer cells. Next, the researchers plan on making a thorough correlation between the degree of cancer cell death in the nodes and patient survival rates. Also, the genetic markup of cancer cells in lymph nodes will be compared to those win the original tumor to see if this makes a vital difference in how cancer metastasizes.

RelatedPosts

Scientists find genetic kill switch that destroys cancer cells without the need for chemotherapy
Google’s top result for “cure for cancer”says carrot juice is the cure
Human skin bacteria might protect against skin cancer, scientists say
Genetically engineered virus kills liver cancer and significantly prolongs life

Findings appeared in the journal Anticancer Research.

Tags: cancercancer researchcancer treatmentimmune systemlymph nodesmetastasis

ShareTweetShare
Tibi Puiu

Tibi Puiu

Tibi is a science journalist and co-founder of ZME Science. He writes mainly about emerging tech, physics, climate, and space. In his spare time, Tibi likes to make weird music on his computer and groom felines. He has a B.Sc in mechanical engineering and an M.Sc in renewable energy systems.

Related Posts

A unique eye accessory
Health

Miracle surgery: Doctors remove a hard-to-reach spinal tumor through the eye of a patient

byRupendra Brahambhatt
1 week ago
Health

This Futuristic Laser Blood Test May Be the Key to Beating Cancer Early

byTudor Tarita
4 weeks ago
Health

CT Scans Save Lives But Researchers Now Say They Could Also Be Behind 100,000 Future Cancer Cases

byTibi Puiu
1 month ago
Health

This Common Vaccine Seems To Reduce Dementia Risk by 20%

byMihai Andrei
1 month ago

Recent news

Scientists Blasted Human Cells With 5G Radiation and the Results Are In

May 15, 2025

Orange Cats Are Genetically Unlike Any Other Mammal and Now We Know Why

May 15, 2025

Scientists Found ‘Anti Spicy’ Compounds That Make Hot Peppers Taste Milder

May 15, 2025
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Editorial Policy
  • Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
  • How we review products
  • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Science News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Space
  • Future
  • Features
    • Natural Sciences
    • Physics
      • Matter and Energy
      • Quantum Mechanics
      • Thermodynamics
    • Chemistry
      • Periodic Table
      • Applied Chemistry
      • Materials
      • Physical Chemistry
    • Biology
      • Anatomy
      • Biochemistry
      • Ecology
      • Genetics
      • Microbiology
      • Plants and Fungi
    • Geology and Paleontology
      • Planet Earth
      • Earth Dynamics
      • Rocks and Minerals
      • Volcanoes
      • Dinosaurs
      • Fossils
    • Animals
      • Mammals
      • Birds
      • Fish
      • Amphibians
      • Reptiles
      • Invertebrates
      • Pets
      • Conservation
      • Animal facts
    • Climate and Weather
      • Climate change
      • Weather and atmosphere
    • Health
      • Drugs
      • Diseases and Conditions
      • Human Body
      • Mind and Brain
      • Food and Nutrition
      • Wellness
    • History and Humanities
      • Anthropology
      • Archaeology
      • History
      • Economics
      • People
      • Sociology
    • Space & Astronomy
      • The Solar System
      • Sun
      • The Moon
      • Planets
      • Asteroids, meteors & comets
      • Astronomy
      • Astrophysics
      • Cosmology
      • Exoplanets & Alien Life
      • Spaceflight and Exploration
    • Technology
      • Computer Science & IT
      • Engineering
      • Inventions
      • Sustainability
      • Renewable Energy
      • Green Living
    • Culture
    • Resources
  • Videos
  • Reviews
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Editorial policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.