Scientists report that extra sets of chromosomes can change how tumour cells behave. Using fruit flies and human lung cancer cells, the Tulane University team showed that polyploid cells — those with extra chromosome sets — make more proteins than normal. This protein excess triggers a cellular stress response, including elevated reactive oxygen species and activation of the JNK enzyme.
As a result, stressed polyploid cells become more motile and more likely to engulf neighbouring cells, behaviours that assist invasion. When researchers inhibited JNK in both fly tissues and polyploid human lung cancer cells, the cells’ ability to migrate through tissue was reduced. This result suggests JNK activity helps polyploid cells move and invade nearby tissue.
The authors note that polyploid cells appear often in aggressive, therapy-resistant tumours. They add that targeting stress-sensing pathways in polyploid cells could represent a new therapeutic strategy to limit tumour invasion. The study appears in the Journal of Cell Biology and was reported by Tulane University.
Difficult words
- polyploid — cells that contain extra chromosome setspolyploid cells
- chromosome — structure carrying genetic information in cellschromosomes, chromosome sets
- cellular stress response — cell reactions to damage or unusual stress
- reactive oxygen species — chemicals formed from oxygen that damage cells
- enzyme — protein that speeds up chemical reactions
- motile — able to move or change position
- engulf — to surround and swallow another cell or particle
- invasion — entry and spread into surrounding tissue or area
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Discussion questions
- How convincing do you find experiments that use fruit flies and human cells for conclusions about human tumours? Give reasons.
- What possible benefits and risks might come from targeting stress-sensing pathways in polyploid tumour cells?
- How could the ability of polyploid cells to engulf neighbouring cells change the behaviour and treatment of tumours?
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