The ibs.GRANADA has developed a new isolation method and a conditioned culture medium for cancer stem cells
Cancer is a pathological process that causes cells to proliferate in an uncontrolled way and can affect different organs when metastasis occurs.
Recently, several studies have modified the traditional view of the origin of the disease by identifying subpopulations of cells within tumors that drive cancer growth, known as cancer stem cells. These cells are characterized by their ability to remain with very low activity for long periods of time, being able to self-renew, and guarantee the growth and heterogeneity of the tumor, its resistance to chemo- and radio-therapy and the development of metastases.
Cancer stem cells play a vital role in tumor development and proliferation. It is essential to know their presence and evolution after cancer treatments, in addition to locating specific pharmacological treatments that attack them. The problem facing this clinical development is that the presence of cancer stem cells present in the patient is very scarce and their growth and maintenance in culture for study, without losing their properties, is very limited (4-5 days) .
Thanks to the support of FIPSE, the Foundation for Innovation and Prospective Health in Spain, the Biosanitary Research Institute of Granada (www.ibsgranada.es) has developed a new isolation method and a conditioned medium for stem cell culture cancer that more effectively facilitates the work with these subpopulations so important for oncology.
FIPSE supports the development for the future extension to the Health System of the method proposed and developed by Doctors María Ángel García and Juan Antonio Marchal, which will facilitate the carrying out of diagnostic and therapeutic tests that allow locating selective therapies for the elimination of these subpopulations so aggressive such as cancer stem cells.
The sector of diagnostic biotechnology and pharmacology has shown a growing interest in the field of cancer stem cells, and that is why it has had a significant boost in recent times. Thanks to this innovative project, it will be possible to advance one more step towards the control and treatment of the disease.