Research Shows Cell's Inactive State is Critical for Effectiveness of Cancer Treatment
Friday, January 9, 2009 - 12:35
in Biology & Nature
A new study sheds light on a little understood biological process called quiescence, which enables blood-forming stem cells to exist in a dormant or inactive state in which they are not growing or dividing. According to the study's findings, researchers identified the genetic pathway used to maintain a cell's quiescence, a state that allows bone marrow cells to escape the lethal effects of standard cancer treatments.