Scientists from the Barcelona Biomedicine Research Institute have found that some cancer cells can “switch off” genes that cause inflammation, thus hiding their presence in the body. Research results It was published In the journal Cancer Research (CRes).
The researchers explained that some cancer cells can enter a state of “persistence,” temporarily and reversibly “inhibit” their function, and then resume activity after completing a course of cancer treatment, such as chemotherapy. This awakening of cells will most likely lead to a relapse of the disease.
In laboratory experiments, scientists discovered that resident cells block genes responsible for inflammation using a special epigenetic mechanism. Inflammation, as a protective-adaptive process, helps the body detect and eliminate threats. Suppressing this helps cancer cells avoid being recognized and destroyed by the immune system.
Unlike senescent cells, which actively cause inflammation and use other strategies to evade the immune response, persistent cells operate in a “stealth” manner, making them particularly dangerous.
According to scientists, suppressing epigenetic control using appropriate drugs can reactivate inflammatory genes and reduce the viability of persistent cells. However, additional research is needed to test this hypothesis.
Previously was named Factor that reduces the survival chances of children with cancer.
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Source: Gazeta

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