(Ivanhoe Newswire) – One area of focus when it comes to cancer research is identifying the small number of cells within a tumor that are responsible for tumor growth. New research from the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center has made a big step in this type of research. Study authors have found a marker that can be used to identify cancer stem cells in breast tumor.

In the new research, investigators found that cells from normal and cancerous breast tissue that had high levels of the enzyme aldehyde dehydrogenase activity or ALDH acted like breast stem cells. Out of the 577 tissue samples studied, those that expressed the specific form of ALDH1 had the worst outcomes. Researchers say this means this marker could be used as a good predictor of how aggressive a tumor is and how well patients will fare.
 

The general belief is that fewer than 5 percent of all cells in a tumor are made up by stem cells. But, it’s believed that these stem cells are key in cancer progression. However, it’s too complex to apply looking at stem cells to each patient. This research is also still in laboratory stage and there are no clinical tests being done. However, researchers say that ALDH1 is an easily detected marker that could lead to a simple test that could help determine the best treatment for breast cancer.

SOURCE: Cell Stem Cell, 2007