Scientists eliminate metastatic cells: new study gives hope to cancer patients

Scientists at the Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB) in Spain managed to discover the malignant cells responsible for the relapse of colon cancer. The result of the study is hopeful for the fight against metastasis.

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Metastasis occurs when cancer spreads to other parts of the body from where it originated. Cancer cells travel through the bloodstream or lymph vessels and can settle in other organs.

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Even more encouraging is the fact that, in the experiments, which were carried out on mice, the cells that cause metastasis were not only identified but also eliminated by the scientists.

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The study, led by the Spanish biologist, Eduard Battle (in the center of the photo), was published in one of the most important scientific journals in the world, Nature.

During the experiment, the cells that detached themselves from the initial tumor were eliminated with genetic techniques, before the surgery.

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In summary, the IRB researchers made an experimental model using mice to monitor malignant colon cancer cells, with the aim of tracking cells with a high probability of relapse known as High Relapse Cells.

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The new method proved to be efficient both for locating the metastasis cells and for preventing their recurrence, through genetic techniques, as previously mentioned. Prior to this, with traditional diagnostic procedures, early detection of malignant cells went unnoticed.

According to the study itself, "approximately 30-40% of patients with colorectal cancer undergoing surgery to remove the primary tumor will develop metastases in subsequent years. Therapies to prevent disease relapses are still an unmet medical need".

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It is also worth mentioning that, according to National Geographic, "Colon cancer is the third most common cancer in the world. In addition, 90% of cancer deaths are a result of metastasis".

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The Spanish newspaper El País quoted the scientific article and explained: "In mice with localized tumors, the scientists injected standard immunotherapy to clean up residual detached cancer cells before removing the primary tumor."

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The Spanish newspaper also quoted, Eduard Battle, leader of the study, who celebrated the success of the experiment saying: "These mice, after surgery, are cured. They never relapse, ever again."

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In an interview on the social networks of IRB Barcelona, Batlle explains: "We tested more than 500 different antibodies, to identify those that have a more effective activity in different patients."

The result of the published paper says: "Our discovery reveals the dynamics of the cellular state of residual disease in colon cancer and predicts that therapies that may help prevent metastasis are those that aim to eliminate cells with a high probability of relapse."

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The results of the experiment point to a promising path in the search for an effective treatment for some types of cancer.

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In this same interview, Eduard Batlle adds: "In addition to preventing metastasis, immunotherapy treatment proved to be effective in inhibiting the activity of cancer stem cells in different types of solid tumors, such as colon, stomach and esophagus."

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Although the results are encouraging, there is still work to be done to understand how this model used in the laboratory could be applied to humans. We hope that this research progresses quickly and that its results can be applied to treat patients who need it, all over the world!

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