伦敦大学；癌症转移的原因 科学家发现免疫细胞和癌细胞互相追随 （Chase and Run）
Why cancer spreads: Scientists discover that healthy cells follow diseased ones around the body, paving the way for a cure
研究人员发现了一种被称为“追逐和奔跑”效应的机制，即患病细胞和健康细胞在身体周围相互追随。
这一突破可能被证明对找到治疗癌症的方法至关重要。
科学家们相信他们可能最终发现了癌症传播的原因——这一发现可能对开发一种治疗方法至关重要。
一项可能拯救数百万人生命的重大突破是，一项研究发现了一种名为“追逐与奔跑”(chase and run)的机制，即患病细胞和健康细胞在体内相互追随。
伦敦大学学院(University College London)的研究人员的这一发现，可能会导致一种革命性的治疗方法，它可以阻断肿瘤的活动，并将肿瘤固定在一个地方。
研究人员称，停止“追逐和奔跑”效应“相对容易”。
英国每年有超过15万人死于癌症，但研究发言人Roberto Mayor教授说:“大多数死亡并不是因为原发性肿瘤的形成。
“相反，人们死于第一个恶性细胞产生的继发性肿瘤，这些恶性细胞能够在身体的重要器官，如肺或大脑中传播和定居。”
他补充说:“这种情况的发生是因为健康的细胞会跟随他们。”没人知道这是怎么发生的，现在我们相信我们已经发现了。
如果是这样的话，开发出干扰这种相互作用的药物就相对容易了。
这项发表在《自然细胞生物学》杂志上的研究，使用了两种类型的胚胎细胞来模拟癌细胞和健康细胞的作用。
这一发现的关键在于首先弄清为什么癌细胞会依附于健康细胞。
科学家们通过使用类似类型的细胞并观察它们的行为来模拟发生了什么。
突破:研究人员观察了青蛙和斑马鱼的胚胎，但还没有观察到真正的癌细胞，如图所示
研究人员利用青蛙和斑马鱼胚胎进行了这项研究，他们相信癌细胞附着在健康细胞上以便在身体周围移动的过程与此相似。
英国癌症研究中心的Kat Arney博士对这一发现表示欢迎，但她也建议大家要小心。
她在接受《每日电讯报》采访时说:“这项研究有助于揭示细胞在体内移动过程中可能起作用的一些基本生物过程，但科学家们只观察青蛙和斑马鱼胚胎的发育，而没有专门研究癌细胞。”
“因此，要想知道这些知识能否转化为癌症患者的新疗法，还有很长的路要走。”
研究小组一开始并没有找到导致癌症的原因。
Researchers have identified a mechanism known as the ‘chase and run’ effect, where diseased and healthy cells follow each other around the body
The breakthrough could prove vital in finding a cure for cancer
By LUCY OSBORNE FOR THE DAILY MAIL
PUBLISHED: 04:18 BST, 17 June 2013 | UPDATED: 01:18 BST, 18 June 2013
Scientists believe they may have finally discovered why cancer spreads, which could be vital in developing a cure.
Scientists believe they may have finally discovered why cancer spreads, which could be vital in developing a cure.
Scientists believe they may have finally discovered why cancer spreads - a finding which could be vital in developing a cure.
In a major breakthrough which could save millions of lives, a study has identified a mechanism known as the ‘chase and run’ effect, where diseased and healthy cells follow each other around the body.
The discovery, by researchers at University College London, may lead to a revolutionary therapy that blocks the action and keeps tumours in one place.
The researchers claim it will be 'relatively easy' to stop the 'chase and run' effect.
Cancer claims more than 150,000 lives each year in the UK, but study spokesman Professor Roberto Mayor said: ‘Most deaths are not due to the formation of the primary tumour.
‘Instead, people die from secondary tumours originating from the first malignant cells, which are able to travel and colonise vital organs of the body such as the lungs or the brain.’
He added: ‘This happens because the cells get healthy ones to follow them. Nobody knew how this happened, and now we believe we have uncovered it.
‘If that is the case, it will be relatively easy to develop drugs that interfere with this interaction.’
The study, published in Nature Cell Biology, used two types of embryonic cells to simulate the roles of cancerous and healthy cells.
The key to the findings was ascertaining why cancerous cells attach themselves to healthy cells in the first place.
The scientists mimicked what happens by using comparable types of cell and observing their behaviour.
Breakthrough: Researchers looked at frog and zebrafish embryos and have yet to look at actual cancer cells, like the one pictured
Breakthrough: Researchers looked at frog and zebrafish embryos and have yet to look at actual cancer cells, like the one pictured
The researchers, who conducted the study using frog and zebrafish embryos, are confident the process in which cancer cells attach to healthy ones in order to migrate around the body works in a similar way.
The find has been welcomed by Dr Kat Arney at Cancer Research UK, but she also advised caution.
She told the Daily Telegraph: 'This research helps to reveal some of the fundamental biological processes that might be at work as cells move around the body, but the scientists have only looked at developing frog and zebrafish embryos rather than specifically looking at cancer cells.
'So there is a very long way to go to see whether this knowledge can be translated into new treatments for cancer patients.'
The team were unable to find out what causes cancer in the first place.
Why cancer spreads: Scientists say key breakthrough paves the way for a cure | Daily Mail Online http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2342950/Why-cancer-spreads-Scientists-say-key-breakthrough-paves-way-cure.html
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