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December 16, 2005|Volume 34, Number 14|Four-Week Issue


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New evidence supports a century-old theory about how cancer spreads, report researchers

A School of Medicine study in the December issue of The Lancet Oncology challenges mainstream oncology researchers to consider tumor cell hybridization with white blood cells as a major reason that cancer metastasizes, or spreads to other parts of the body.

"Cancer cells exhibit a remarkable number of traits normally attributed to white blood cells known as macrophages, including the ability to migrate to lymph nodes and distant organs and to form a new blood supply. Our data indicate that they do this by hybridizing with macrophages," says lead author John Pawelek, research affiliate in the Department of Dermatology at the School of Medicine and a member of Yale Cancer Center.

Pawelek says the idea of white blood cells hybridizing with tumor cells is not new. In the early 1900s the German pathologist Otto Aichel proposed that metastasis is caused by cancer cells fusing with macrophages.

"There is now evidence to support all aspects of his proposition," says Pawelek. "Macrophages are among the most motile cells we have. By co-opting the macrophage's ability to move, the hybrid is very different from the original cancer cell. It is able to migrate away from the primary site of tumor formation and take up residence in other areas of the body while it continues to divide."

Working for more than a decade with a diverse team of scientists at Yale and other research centers, Pawelek concludes that there is now sufficient evidence for Aichel's proposal to be taken seriously by the research community. Pawelek's group began testing the theory in 1993, when they created hybrids in the lab by fusing mouse melanoma cells with mouse macrophages.

"Their behavior was astonishing," says Pawelek. "In culture dishes, fused cells were extraordinarily motile compared to unfused melanoma cells. They spread rapidly when implanted in mice. Even though the idea is virtually unknown to cancer researchers today, many scientists worked on it in the 20th century. From the late 1960s up to today there have been many reports of tumor hybrids.

"Aichel implored future scientists to study cancer cells 'from all angles' for evidence of hybridization," Pawelek adds. "It is remarkable that a century later we are doing just that. Were he alive today, Aichel would likely be both surprised and gratified, even though it might seem to be taking a rather long time."

Other researchers on the study were Ashok Chakraborty, Dr. Dennis Cooper, Douglas Brash, Dr. Tamara Handerson, Dr. Yesim Yilmaz and Dr. Rossitza Lazova.

-- By Karen Peart


T H I SW E E K ' SS T O R I E S

Pepper stepping down as Yale V.P.

INTERNATIONAL YALE

Student is embodiment of 'Life Transformed'

Matching contribution program for hurricane relief exceeds expectations

Campus events celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.

Images of sky reveal many large galaxies have merged

Scientists map complex cell signaling network

SCHOOL OF MEDICINE NEWS

New Law School website lists global provisions for protection of children

Famous circus attraction is highlight of Peabody exhibit

The art of cut-and-paste

YCIAS program to explore the theme 'Cuba from Within'

Bromley tribute

Dean Speth's 'Red Sky at Morning' wins Connecticut Book Award

Alexandrov wins MLA prize for his book about 'Anna Karenina'

In Memoriam: Dr. Charles F. McKhann

Japanese officials and Yale experts discuss programs . . .

Campus Notes

Security Procedures for Recess


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