Cavalry Regimental Supply

Exactly how metastases occur was unclear. Working closely with Professor Jochen Herms LMU Central Research and pray neuropathology and scientists at the Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology Martinsried near, Winkler and colleagues Yvonne Kienast and Louisa von Baumgarten are, for the first time been able to follow the fate of individual tumor cells, in real time, for periods long enough to allow the development of metastases in the brain of large size. The study used two-photon microscopy, which allows you to look deeper into the tissues than is possible with conventional fluorescence microscopy. Basically, we were able to monitor the stages of metastasis to live, said Yvonne Kienast.This research was published online December 20, 2009, in the journal Nature Medicine.

This is the fourth step, which gives the decisive signal for the development of clinically relevant metastases. This occurs when neighboring micrometastases fuse and new blood vessels grow in mass as a result. The latter process – angiogenesis – to ensure that the tumor has a constant supply of nutrients, allowing it to grow unchecked. The imaging experiments also revealed the challenges that cancer cells to metastasize. As Winkler points out, Each of the measures can go wrong. The cells can not get out of traffic, can not adhere to the outer wall of the vessel or to be incapable of inducing angiogenesis

Up to 25percent of patients with cancer develop metastases in the brain – often long after successful treatment of the primary tumor. In almost all cases, the prognosis is poor. The mechanisms responsible for the appearance of brain metastases have long been mysterious. Now a research team led by neurologist Dr

As Winkler and his colleagues confirmed, many cancer cells can remain in a quiescent state for long periods, and then suddenly begin to grow again. That’s why metastases often occur years after successful treatment of the original tumor, he said. It turns out that direct contact with a blood vessel is also essential for the survival of tumor cells is based. These new results should soon help to improve patient care. Now we want to try other types of cancer drugs for their effects on the simple steps of metastasis, said Winkler. With these ideas, it may be possible to discover new materials that allow us to treat existing metastases effectively or even prevent them from developing at all.

This is not the primary tumor that kills most patients, but metastases that result. Metastases in the brain are associated with a poor prognosis particularly sad. These secondary tumors are frequent in patients who have or have had breast cancer of the lung, or skin. They are very difficult to treat, as existing treatments can only slow down, do not cure the disease. Unfortunately, brain metastases are now seen more often than before, said Dr. Frank Winkler, who heads the research group at the Neurological Clinic of the LMU Neurooncology of Monaco. Improvements in the treatment of malignant tumors have increased survival time. But it also means that patients are more at risk of developing brain metastases.