Cancer Cells May Help Promote Tumor Growth

New medical research from the University of Michigan has found that cells known as cancer stem cells may be behind the occasional return of cancerous tumors.

University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center official Diane Simeone told USA Today these cells, that make up less than one percent of a tumor, can play an integral role in the tumors’ resistance to treatment.

While radiation or surgical treatment may help remove most of a tumor, the remnants of cancer stem cells can ultimately grow an entire new tumor and threaten patients’ lives.

The cells can not only copy themselves, but live dramatically longer than ordinary cells.

While researchers have not been able to trace the origins of the cancer stem cells, their ongoing research is increasingly oriented towards determining how best to treat the resilient cells to help facilitate pancreatic cancer treatment.

It’s exciting to think that I could potentially have an impact on pancreatic cancer, Simeone said. I’m not going to have that impact doing surgery.