Scientists Discover Key Chemical in Cancer Spread: Insights from Dr. Minsoo Kim and Team
Researchers at the Wilmot Cancer Institute, led by Dr. Minsoo Kim, have discovered that a chemical called PAF can rewire immune cells to promote cancer spread. This finding, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, suggests that targeting PAF could help treat multiple types of cancer.
Key Findings
The study found that PAF (platelet-activating factor) not only recruits cancer-promoting cells but also suppresses the immune system’s ability to fight back. This discovery is significant because it could lead to treatments that interfere with PAF, potentially applying to many types of cancer.
Focus on Pancreatic Cancer
Much of the team’s work focused on pancreatic cancer cells, one of the most deadly cancers with a five-year survival rate of about 12 percent. Pancreatic tumors are notoriously hard to treat because they are surrounded by a toxic stew of proteins and other tissues that protect the cancer from the immune system’s natural role to attack invaders.
Other Cancers Studied
The researchers also studied breast, ovarian, colorectal, and lung cancer cells, using advanced 3D imaging technology to watch the behavior of immune cells as they swarmed to the cancerous region.
Research Team
The research was designed by Ankit Dahal, a member of Dr. Kim’s lab and a student in the UR Medical Scientist Training Program. Dahal also co-wrote the journal article with Dr. Kim.
Doubts Revealed
PAF -: PAF stands for Platelet-Activating Factor. It’s a chemical in our body that can affect how cells behave, including immune cells.
immune cells -: Immune cells are special cells in our body that help fight off infections and diseases, like soldiers protecting a city.
cancer spread -: Cancer spread means that cancer cells move from one part of the body to another, making the disease worse.
Wilmot Cancer Institute -: The Wilmot Cancer Institute is a place where scientists and doctors study and treat cancer. It’s like a big hospital and research center.
Dr. Minsoo Kim -: Dr. Minsoo Kim is a scientist who studies how our immune system works and how it can be used to fight cancer.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences -: This is a famous journal where scientists publish their important research findings so other scientists can learn from them.
pancreatic cancer -: Pancreatic cancer is a type of cancer that starts in the pancreas, an organ in our body that helps with digestion and blood sugar control.
breast, ovarian, colorectal, and lung cancers -: These are different types of cancers that start in the breast, ovaries, colon, and lungs, which are all important parts of our body.
Ankit Dahal -: Ankit Dahal is a student who is training to become both a doctor and a scientist. He helped design the research study.
UR Medical Scientist Training Program -: This is a special program at the University of Rochester where students learn to be both doctors and scientists.
