Cancer Research in Switzerland - Krebsliga Schweiz

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the cancer stem cell concept predicts that particular cancers
arise from specific cancer stem cell types. Unfortunately,
cancer stem cells appear to be relatively resistant
to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Thus, it is imperative
to better characterize cancer stem cells in order to establish
novel therapies specifically targeting these cells.
The skin is the organ with the highest incidence of malignancies,
and skin cancers occur more frequently than all
other cancers combined. Of the various skin cancers, melanoma
is responsible for most deaths. Melanoma cells
arise by malignant transformation of melanocytes, the
pigment cells in our skin. These cells, in turn, originate
during development in the neural crest. In accordance
with the hypothesis that melanoma might develop from
cancer stem cells, we have identified melanoma stem cells
with features of neural crest stem cells. These cells are responsible
for both tumour initiation and tumour maintenance.
Intriguingly, we found that melanoma stem cells
appear to have specific capacities to evade anti-cancer
immune responses. Based on our findings, we will investigate
the specific genetic properties and growth requirements
of melanoma stem cells with the goal of establishing
novel targets for the elimination of cancer stem cells.
Indeed, we have already identified chemical substances
that counteract melanoma stem cell growth and tumour
formation in animal models. Our study highlights the importance
of collaborative efforts – involving stem cell biologists,
pathologists, and pharmacologists – for cancer
stem cell research and the development of new treatment
strategies.
Project coordinator
Prof. Dr. Lukas Sommer
Anatomisches Institut
Zell- und Entwicklungsbiologie
Universität Zürich
Winterthurerstrasse 190
CH-8057 Zürich
Phone +41 (0)44 635 53 50/54 43
Fax +41 (0)44 635 68 95
lukas.sommer@anatom.uzh.ch
In collaboration with:
– Prof. Dr. Michael Detmar, ETH Zürich, Institute of
Pharmaceutical Sciences, CH-8093 Zürich
– Prof. Dr. Reinhard Dummer, Universitätsspital Zürich,
Dermatologische Klinik, CH-8091 Zürich
– Dr. Daniela Mihic-Probst, Universitätsspital Zürich,
Dept. Pathologie, CH-8091 Zürich