HKU makes breakthrough in colon cancer research
Researchers from the University of Hong Kong's Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine on Friday said they had identified a group of cancer stem cells responsible for the spread of colon cancer.
The discovery might lead to better treatment in future of the potentially fatal disease.
Professor Benjamin Wong Chun-yu said the new research isolated a group of cells [genes] which carried a marker called “CD26”.
“Tumours that carry this specific marker [‘CD26'] have a high chance of spreading in the future, so patients will have very poor survival rate if they have this marker in their tumour,” Wong explained.
He said the tumour markers were also found in people's blood. “So, with a simple blood test, we are now able to identify patients carrying these markers,” he said.
Wong told local radio that at present, chemotherapy on colon cancer patients could not kill all these cells.
Dr Roberta Pang Wen-chi said the breakthrough should allow researchers to develop better drugs to combat colon cancer.
“In the long-term, it should allow the long-term the development of more useful, safe and specific drugs that can be used in combination with chemotherapy.” she said.
Colon cancer is the second most common cancer in Hong Kong. It affects both genders equally. Scientists predict that it would soon become the most common cancer in Hong Kong.
Source: http://www.scmp.com
