Some Tumor Cells Are More Dangerous Than Others  

Only a certain type of colon cancer stem cells promotes metastasis formation

A team of researchers led by Prof. Dr. Hanno Glimm in the department of Prof. Dr. Christof von Kalle of the National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) and the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) has been able to identify distinct classes of cancer-causing cells known as tumor-initiating cells (TIC) in colon cancer. As the group has now reported jointly with colleagues of Heidelberg University Hospital in the international specialist journal Cell Stem Cell, only a certain type of these cells drive tumor growth and tumor spread (metastasis).

Malignant tumors such as colon cancer consist of different types of cells. Besides the bulk of tumor cells, there are connective tissue cells, blood vessels, immune cells and tumor stem cells. Scientists have discussed for some time now, whether cells known as tumor stem cells, much like stem cells in normal tissue, determine the character of the disease and form life-threatening metastatic tumors. Researchers have repeatedly noticed in their studies that most cells in the tumor tissue do not divide often and do not migrate to other tissues. Since most cancer patients whose disease cannot be cured die from the consequences of metastasis, it is essential for better treatment results to successfully destroy the "tumor stem cells" that are causing this. This applies no matter whether the bulk of the remaining tumor succumbs rapidly or slowly to the treatment.

"We have to find out which cells drive metastasis formation and how they do that. This knowledge is particularly important in order to further improve treatment results in the future for those colon cancer patients in whom the cancer has already spread in the body and surgery is no longer possible or useful," says Hanno Glimm of the Department of Translational Oncology, explaining the goal of his research.

The team labeled human colon cancer stem cells with a genetic "barcode" and transplanted them into mice that had their immune system turned off. The mice subsequently developed tumors which also formed metastases. The investigators then traced the labeled colon cancer cells in the primary tumor tissue, in the bloodstream, in the bone marrow and in the metastases. They found out that of the original barcodes there appeared only few and often the same ones in each daughter tumor, which means that these metastases originated from a limited number of colon cancer stem cells. The team was able to subdivide this activity into further functional types. Of these, the group of long-term tumor-initiating cells (LT-TICs) is considered particularly important by the researchers. LT-TICs circulate in the blood and accumulate in the bone marrow. Meanwhile, they retain their tumor-initiating properties and are therefore involved in metastasis formation.

"Our discovery allows us to develop new therapies targeting the tumor-initiating cells in colon cancer," Christof von Kalle is pleased to say. "If, in some distant future, we succeeded in effectively eradicating these metastasis-forming cells, we would be better able to help patients with metastatic colon carcinoma."

Colon cancer is among the most common cancers in the Western world. Every year, about 68,740 people in Germany are diagnosed with colon cancer and approximately 27,225 people die from it. Among the factors contributing to the development of this type of cancer are lifestyle and dietary habits along with genetic factors.

Sebastian M. Dieter, Claudia R. Ball, Christopher M. Hoffmann, Ali Nowrouzi, Friederike Herbst, Oksana Zavidij, Ulrich Abel, Anne Arens, Wilko Weichert, Karsten Brand, Moritz Koch, Jürgen Weitz, Manfred Schmidt, Christof v. Kalle, Hanno Glimm. Distinct Types of Tumor-Initiating Cells Form Human Colon Cancer Tumors and Metastases. Cell Stem Cells 2011, Online: Oct 4; 357-65.
DOI 10.1016/j.stem.2011.08.010

About the National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Heidelberg:
The National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Heidelberg is a joint project of the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg University Hospital, Thoraxklinik Heidelberg and Deutsche Krebshilfe (German Cancer Aid). The latter supports NCT as a Center of Excellence in Oncology. The aim of NCT is to link promising approaches from cancer research with patient care, from diagnosis over treatment to follow-up care and prevention. At the heart of NCT is the interdisciplinary Tumor Outpatient Clinic where patients benefit from an individual treatment plan provided in a timely manner by interdisciplinary expert boards called Tumor Boards. Participation in clinical trials provides access to innovative therapies. Thus, NCT is a pioneering platform for the transfer of new research results from the laboratory to clinical practice.
 

Contact:

Prof. Dr. med. Hanno Glimm
Dept. of Translational Oncology
National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Heidelberg
German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) Heidelberg
Im Neuenheimer Feld 460
D-69120 Heidelberg
Phone: ++49 6221 56-7078/6979
Fax: ++49 6221 56-7234
E-mail: hanno.glimm@nct-heidelberg.de
www.nct-heidelberg.de

Prof. Dr. med. Christof v. Kalle
Dept. of Translational Oncology
National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Heidelberg
Im Neuenheimer Feld 460
69120 Heidelberg
Phone: +49 6221 56-6990/6991
Fax: +49 6221 56-6930
E-mail: christof.kalle@nct-heidelberg.de

Contact for journalists:

Alenka Tschischka
National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Heidelberg
Office of Press and Public Relations
Im Neuenheimer Feld 460
69120 Heidelberg
Phone +49 6221 42-2254
Fax: +49 6221 42-2968
E-Mail: Alenka.Tschischka@nct-heidelberg.de
www.nct-heidelberg.de

Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ)
Dr. Stefanie Seltmann
Leiterin Presse- und Öffentlichkeitsarbeit
Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum
Im Neuenheimer Feld 280
69120 Heidelberg
Tel.: +49 6221 42-2854
Fax: +49 6221 42-2968
E-Mail: S.Seltmann@dkfz.de
www.dkfz.de

Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg
Dr. Annette Tuffs
Leiterin Presse- und Öffentlichkeitsarbeit des Universitätsklinikums Heidelberg
und der Medizinischen Fakultät der Universität Heidelberg
Im Neuenheimer Feld 672
69120 Heidelberg
Tel.: +49 6221 56-45 36
Fax: +49 6221 56-45 44
E-Mail: Annette.Tuffs@med.uni-heidelberg.de
www.klinikum.uni-heidelberg.de

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