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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – Why does breast cancer often come back or spread to other parts of the body? Researchers at the U-M Comprehensive Cancer Center believe it’s because current chemotherapy and radiation treatments don’t kill the key driver of cancer – a small number of cells within a tumor called cancer stem cells. These are the only cells capable of regenerating new cancer cells.
In 2003, U-M researchers were first to identify breast cancer stem cells. Now, the research has advanced to clinical trials, where patients are being treated with a drug that specifically targets these cells.
Initial results show the drug is well-tolerated. Biopsies given before and after treatment with the drug show the number of stem cells in the tissue decreased after treatment – an encouraging sign that the drug is killing the stem cells.
Several clinical trials are testing different potential ways to use drugs that fight cancer stem cell in combination with traditional treatments that will wipe out the rest of the tumor cells.
To learn more about clinical trials at the U-M Comprehensive Cancer Center, visit www.UMClinicalStudies.org/cancer or call the U-M Cancer AnswerLine at 800-865-1125.
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