'Basal' cells may trigger cancer

Researchers in the US have pinpointed a cell that could be the "mother" of all prostate tumours.

During experiments in the laboratory, the scientists found that "basal" cells could trigger cancer in mice with suppressed immune systems. The cells were taken from healthy human prostate tissue.

Each year, nearly 10,000 men suffer from prostate tumours in the country.

Indicating that the cells may be the true culprits behind prostate cancer, the experts are hoping that the latest findings would pave the way for better treatments against the disease, using improved diagnostic tools. The study was documented in the journal Science.

Earlier studies showed that a different type of immature cell, known as a luminal cell, trigger prostate cancer.

In the latest study, the researchers analysed both luminal and basal cells, by extracting them from non-cancerous human prostate tissue samples.

They first amended the cells by inserting defective genes into them known to cause cancer. Later, they were implanted into susceptible mice with impaired immune systems.

The results showed that it was basal rather than luminal cells that initiated prostate cancer in the animals.

Dr Owen Witte, from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), one of the study's senior authors, said: "This gives us a place to look in understanding the sequence of genetic events that initiates prostate cancer and defining the cell signalling pathways that may be at work fuelling the malignancy, helping us to potentially uncover new targets for therapy."

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