Cancer Research That Caught my Eye

Two emails, I received from the NCI this week contained studies that caught my eye.  

Aged and BRCA mutated stromal cells drive epithelial cell transformation

https://aacrjournals.org/cancerdiscovery/article/doi/10.1158/2159-8290.CD-24-0805/754132/Aged-and-BRCA-mutated-stromal-cells-drive 

https://www.cancer.gov/news-events/cancer-currents-blog/2025/ovarian-cancer-stic-high-risk-mscs?cid=eb_govdel

We now know that precancerous growths called serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma (STIC) lesions in the fallopian tube lead to high grade serous ovarian cancer. This study found STIC lesions in the ovary develop with the aid of a specific type of stem cell called high-risk mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). The MSCs are found in the stroma ( tissue ) under the STIC lesions. When researchers inserted MSC's and healthy fallopian tube tissue into mice the mice developed ovarian cancer. It appears from this study that there is involvement of MSCs in the development of ovarian cancer although more research will need to be done. 

Expanding Research on Dormant Cancer Cells Aims to Prevent Metastasis  

 

https://www.cancer.gov/news-events/cancer-currents-blog/2025/metastasis-dormant-cancer-cells-immune-system?cid=eb_govdel_cancerinfo 

 

I often wonder why some people can go years after a cancer diagnosis and treatment before a recurrence occurs. Could it be that cells go dormant? Then what activates them to grow? This article looked at the latest dormant cancer cell research. Both of these studies used breast cancer mouse models.

The first study mentioned in the article discusses how breast cancer cells that migrated to the lungs stay dormant due to immune cells. Alveolar macrophages express transforming growth factor (TGF)-β2 and along with macrophage-cancer cell interactions via the TGF-βRIII receptor keep the cancer cells in a dormant state. ( https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39378878/). 

A second study used three mouse models. It was found that Natural killer (NK) cells was required to keep the breast cancer cells dormant. The dormant cells resemble cancer stem cells. (https://aacrjournals.org/cancerres/article/84/20/3337/749081/Natural-Killer-Cell-Regulation-of-Breast-Cancer) 

I know of ovarian cancer (OC) survivors who recurred more than 10 years after their initial diagnosis. It makes me wonder if there are dormant OC cells in the pelvis and abdomen long after treatment who are kept in check by immune cells. Could the work currently being done on the tumor microenvironment help us understand if there is an OC stem cell kept in check by our own immune system. 

 

Dee

Every Day is a Blessing!