The National Breast Cancer Foundation reports that more than 250,000 women receive a diagnosis of breast cancer every year. Of the one in eight women who battle breast cancer, about 16% will die from the condition. Even though it is less common in men, still about 2,500 men are diagnosed with it each year.
One reason breast cancer becomes so deadly is the high risk of it spreading to other areas such as the lungs or the liver. It is also difficult to research since there are many challenges when attempting to extract tumor cells from the source. However, researchers are able to conduct some very promising cancer research using various types of human tissue samples. The hope is that more hope can be offered to those who fight to treat and defeat the disease.
The Role of Stem Cell Signaling
Human tissue specimens provide the basis for studying stem cell signaling and it is helping to change how scientists understand the disease. A glandular ductal network makes up the mammary gland. Current theories suggest the terminal ductlobular unit is where breast cancer begins. Using human mammary gland tissue from both females and males allows scientists to study the epithelial cells lining the ducts.
Stem cells in the mammary glands play a huge role in developing breast cancer later in life. Stem cells remodel breast tissue during different life changes like puberty and menopause. The stem cells communicate with a type of immune cell (macrophage). This communication may be how the disease gets its start as well as how it spreads to other parts of the body.
Use of Human Tissue Variations
Evidence has indicated that just one breast stem cell in mammary gland tissue is able to self-renew and grow into a fully functional mammary gland. It may be true for breast cancer stem cells as well. Scientists use human tissue samples from various organs to study notch signaling. Using what they know about cancer stem cells, they can apply the knowledge to other organs such as the pancreas, brain, and liver. Combining stem cell signaling with tissue types helps study the various pathways of both pre-invasive and invasive breast cancers.
Benefits of Biospecimens in Cancer Research
Scientists rely on high-quality human bio-specimens to research many types of cancer. Labs around the globe use human tissue samples like liver, brain, skin, mammary, placenta, and many other types too. By using human tissue samples, researchers can target research and conduct specialized molecular tests to better understand how disease begins, grows, and spreads.
Final Thoughts
Without human tissue samples, the hope of beating various types of cancers is diminished. Cancer kills millions of people every year. Early detection is one of the best ways to increase survival rates of deadly cancers like brain, colon, and breast cancer. Research professionals look for enhanced screening mechanisms as well as genetic markers that could indicate a person is at risk. Without biospecimens, this life-saving research is not possible.
References
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC138780/
https://breastcancernow.org/breast-cancer-research/breast-cancer-now-tissue-bank/about-tissue-bank
https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/breast-cancer
https://medicine.iu.edu/research-centers/breast-cancer
https://www.wcrf.org/dietandcancer/breast-cancer-statistics/
