Cancer research has been diversifying rapidly in recent years, the result of new technology and new knowledge. The International Herald Tribune reports on the latest new direction: “Within each tumor [lurks] a small population of elusive, highly potent cells that drive the tumor’s growth … In the past two years, cancer stem cells have gone from a theory on the fringes of biology to an idea that is attracting money and talent in cancer research. … Most treatments today are judged by their ability to shrink tumors, but the new results suggest the size of the tumor is all but irrelevant: If doctors can kill the stem cells, the tumor is doomed, but if the stem cells survive, it will be back.” Knowledge empowers scientists to develop targeted, effective therapies – we can hope this will happen here.
View the Article Under Discussion: http://www.iht.com/articles/2004/12/26/news/stem.html
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