Harvard attacks cancer

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The Harvard Stem Cell Institute and Massachusetts General Hospital have taken the battle against cancer down to cancer-causing genes and reprogramming adult stem cells. Reprogramming adult stem cells to reach an embryonic stem cell state is a major step toward achieving treatments and cures without risking viruses or cancer-causing genes induced into human hosts.

Years of study have led to the discovery of the method through which adult stem cells need to be reprogrammed before they can be converted to embryonic similar states. Until recently, this process of reprogramming has been a mystery to scientists. Four recently discovered genes have been unidentified in this vital process.

Doug Melton, Co-Director of the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, says, "This marks an important first step in finding ways to create pluripotent stem cells from adult cells without the need for viruses or oncogenes." Experiments, patience, and determination have led the way in showing researchers and professors exactly how to convert adult cells using these four specific genes to convert adult cells into embryonic-type stem cell states.

Says Conrad Hochedlinger, assistant professor at Harvard's Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology department, "The importance of this finding is that it will tell us how long we need to throw chemicals are proteins on the cells for the programming to be effective… we have found molecular cornerstones of the reprogramming process." Harvard University and Massachusetts General Hospital will continue their research and development of this discovery in an effort to finding treatments and eventual cures for multiple forms of cancer.

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