Those metastases that were present grew as large as the metastases in the normal mice. Although fibrinogen does not appear to play a critical role in the growth of established metastases, Palumbo et al. suggest that fibrinogen facilitates metastasis by enhancing the adherence and survival of tumor cell masses within the blood vessels of target organs. Since thrombin may also be involved in metastasis, this study indicates that therapies directed at multiple, distinct, hemostatic factors may be effective in limiting metastasis. Thus, new cancer therapies may be developed that target molecules related to the clotting cascade. It sounds like something out of an X-Men comic.
Scientists can now manipulate stem cells in mice to regenerate tissue and organ systems.
By regenerating organs from these undifferentiated cells derived from the recipient, rejection problems are alleviated. These mice are a model for fatal hereditary tyrosinemia Type I, a hereditary disease affecting metabolism of the amino acid tyrosine. In these mice, tyrosine accumulates in the blood and causes progressive liver disease. The researchers irradiated female FAH mutants to destroy their bone marrow, and transplanted bone marrow cells from wild-type males. Lagasse and his team found that the liver became repopulated with cells normal for FAH production as a result of the bone marrow transplant, correcting the progressive liver disease in these mice, and restoring the biological function of the liver.