Science Spotlight: Killing the mesenchymal precursors that drive cancer progression

Selective ablation of cancer cells with a spindle-like morphology that undergo an epithelial-to-mesenchymal (EMT) transition could prevent pancreatic cancer progression, suggests a Nature study led by researchers at University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Using lineage-tracing and a lineage-ablation system in a genetically engineered mosaic mouse model of pancreatic cancer, the authors identified and selectively targeted tumor cells derived from mesenchymal cancer cells, resulting in increased survival and decreased tumor growth and metastasis. ...