Stem cells ‘linked to bowel cancer’
Defective stem cells can encourage bowel cancer by rapidly multiplying to form tumours, scientists have discovered.
According to a study by British and Dutch researchers, stem cells are the main cause of most cases of this form of the disease.
Scientists have long suspected that such cells - which can develop into a range of different tissues - play an important role in bowel cancer.
The team aimed to identify whether the defects that lead to cancer occur in the stem cells themselves.
Study author Dr Owen Sansom, from Cancer Research UK’s Beatson Institute for Cancer Research in Glasgow, said: "When we studied the effect of blocking the APC gene in the ‘parents’ - or stem cells - the results were striking and the cells started to transform within days. It was clear the ‘ignition point’ for the disease was to be found in the stem cells."
Meanwhile, a new study conducted by Japanese scientists suggested that drinking one cup of coffee a day could half the risk of developing mouth cancer.
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