Source of cancer stem cells' resistance to radiation discovered at Stanford

Much to the dismay of patients and physicians, cancer stem cells - tiny powerhouses that generate and maintain tumour growth in many types of cancers - are relatively resistant to the ionising radiation often used as therapy for these conditions. Part of the reason, say researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine, is the presence of a protective pathway meant to shield normal stem cells from DNA damage. When the researchers blocked this pathway, the cells became more susceptible to radiation...

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