Cancer Pathways Also Control Adult Stem Cell Population

[Guest guest]

Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council

Stem cells and cancer: cancer pathways that also control the adult

stem cell population

Speaking today (10 April) at the UK National Stem Cell Network

Annual Science Meeting in Edinburgh, Professor Alan e from

Cardiff University describes his work to investigate a mechanism

that normally drives adult stem cells to repair the intestine.

Together with his colleague Owen Sansom from the University of

Glasgow, he has found that if things go wrong and a crucial gene

called Apc is lost or damaged, then this normal function of

controlling the adult stem cell population breaks down and

ultimately leads to a tumour. This research is funded by the UK

Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and

Cancer Research UK.

Professor e, Cardiff School of Biosciences said: " If we are to

use adult stem cells for therapy then we must understand how they

behave normally and what sometimes triggers them to go wrong and

potentially cause cancer. Otherwise we may never be able to fully

exploit their potential, or do so safely. That is why we have chosen

to research intestinal repair as an example of how adult stem cells

work and what happens when the pathways that control them go wrong. "

The team from Cardiff University has used genetic technology to

manipulate intestinal stem cells and mimic the process by which a

part of the intestine called the crypts is regenerated following

high levels of DNA damage or injury. By doing this, they have found

that a mechanism called Wnt signalling drives this process and is

necessary to send stem cells down the route to become replacement

cells in the damaged part of the intestine. Under normal

circumstances Wnt signalling is turned down once the stem cells have

done their job. If this does not happen, then more and more cells

are added to the crypt and ultimately a tumour forms.

Professor e added: " It has been known for some time that loss

of or damage to Apc within the intestinal crypt cells can lead to

cancer, but what hasn't been clear is what it actually does. Our

work shows that Apc has a role in switching off Wnt signalling,

controlling the adult stem cell population and preventing the

formation of tumours. "

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Notes to Editors

This research is being presented at the UK National Stem Cell

Network Inaugural Science Meeting at the Edinburgh Conference Centre

on 10 April 2008.

The conference is a showcase of the best and latest UK stem cell

science across all stem cell disciplines.

The UK National Stem Cell Network acts as a network of the existing

regional stem cell networks in the UK, to bring coordination and

coherence to a range of national and regional activities in the

field of stem cell research.

The UKNSCN secretariat receives financial support from four of the

UK Research Councils:

Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)

Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)

Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)

Medical Research Council (MRC)

The Network represents the UK stem cell research community and is

run through an independent Steering Committee. Initially, the

secretariat is operated by BBSRC on behalf of all the Government

sponsors of stem cell research, including the Research Councils, the

Department of Health and the Department for Innovation, Universities

and Skills.

About BBSRC

The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)

is the UK funding agency for research in the life sciences.

Sponsored by Government, BBSRC annually invests around £380 million

in a wide range of research that makes a significant contribution to

the quality of life for UK citizens and supports a number of

important industrial stakeholders including the agriculture, food,

chemical, healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors.

http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk

www.cancerresearchuk.org.