Scientists have discovered that neural stem cells (NSCs) have the ability to track cancer cells in the brain. Researchers genetically engineered NSC s to produce a cancer-killing drug when treated with an agent called 5-FC. The cells were then injected into mice infected with human brain tumor cells, and the animals were given 5-FC – within 2-weeks brain tumors were seen to shrink by up to 80%. Tests revealed that cells injected into a distant site moved to the brain, effectively tracking and targeting the tumor cells. At present, human trials have been unsuccessful, although scientists remain hopeful that NSCs will provide doctors with a treatment capable of finding tumor cells and eliminating them.
SOURCE/REFERENCE: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 2000; 97:12846-12851
