New model for understanding myeloma
- Date:
- October 12, 2016
- Source:
- Yale Cancer Center
- Summary:
- To develop new approaches to cancer prevention, scientists have attempted to grow tumor cells from precursor states in animal models.
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All cancers originate from an earlier, or precursor, state -- such as a benign or asymptomatic condition. To develop new approaches to cancer prevention, scientists have attempted to grow tumor cells from precursor states in animal models. Myeloma -- a type of cancer that forms in white blood cells -- is an example of a cancer that is preceded by a condition called monoclonal gammopathy.
In a new study, Yale professors Madhav Dhodapkar, Richard Flavell, and their co-authors describe new mouse models, wherein mice carry human versions of six genes that are essential for growth of tumor cells. The found that when the humanized mice were injected with tumor and non-tumor cells, both cell types were able to grow. The finding provides a potential new approach to understanding how myeloma develops and how to prevent it.
This study has been published in Nature Medicine.
Story Source:
Materials provided by Yale Cancer Center. Original written by Ziba Kashef. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.
Journal Reference:
- Rituparna Das, Till Strowig, Rakesh Verma, Srinivas Koduru, Anja Hafemann, Stephanie Hopf, Mehmet H Kocoglu, Chiara Borsotti, Lin Zhang, Andrew Branagan, Elizabeth Eynon, Markus G Manz, Richard A Flavell, Madhav V Dhodapkar. Microenvironment-dependent growth of preneoplastic and malignant plasma cells in humanized mice. Nature Medicine, 2016; DOI: 10.1038/nm.4202
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