“A protein which administers the development of human embryonic stem cells also slows down the growth and spread of malignant melanoma which a deadliest skin cancer” discovered by the Northwestern University researchers.

Metastatic melanoma has a death rate of more than 80% and the survival of the patient is less seven and half months that is developed from the transformation of skin pigment cells or melanocytes. This study led by Dr. Mary J.C Hendrix found that a protein called Lefty prevents the breast cancer cells from metastasizing. Lefty is secreted only in human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and no in any other stem cells.

Embryonic stem cells can become around 200 types of cells in the adult body depending on the signals received from their microenvironment and hence it is known as pluripotent. The gradual progress of cancer is also due to the receiving and releasing of signals by the malignant cells from their microenvironment which promote the tumor growth and metastasis.

Revolutionizing work done by Hendrix and colleagues is explaining how the melanoma cells gain improved abilities to migrate, invade and metastasize by remaining almost unidentified by the immune system. Hendrix and fellow researchers demonstrated before that a three-dimensional matrix accustomed by hESCs persuade metastatic melanoma cells to revert to normal skin cell like type with the ability to form colonies in the mode of hESCs.

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Cancer is a deadly disease which begins in your cells. Our body is made up of many types of cells. Usually our body creates new cells when needed and replaces the old cells when they die to keep our body healthy. But sometimes this process goes wrong. New cells grow in an uncontrolled way when they are not needed and old cells don’t die when they should. These cancerous cells form a mass of tissue called tumor. Tumors can either be malignant or benign. Cancer cells are malignant and they will spread to other parts of the body through the lymph systems and blood. Most cancers are named after the organ from which it is originated. For example liver cancer starts in the liver. The spread of cancer from one part of the body to another is called metastasis.

What are the different types of cancer?

There are more than 100 different types of cancers are found. The most common type of cancer is the skin cancer, blood cancer, brain cancer, lung cancer and liver cancer.

Skin Cancer

Among all type of cancer, skin cancer represents about half of all cancers diagnosed in USA. Skin cancer is a disease in which cancer cells are found in the outer layers of your skin. People who are spending a lot of time in sunlight have more possibility of getting affected by skin cancer and those who are having light colored skin are more prone to skin cancer. The signs and symptoms of skin cancer are, wound that doesn’t heal and presence of small lump and red spots in skin. Skin cancer is classified into three main types- basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and malignant melanoma.

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