Researchers Found Higher Concentration of Trace Elements In Bone Cancer
Published: 21 July 2014
Researchers from the MedUni Vienna, the Vienna Technical University and the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute have investigated the distribution of trace elements in the tissue of bone tumors. They found out that tumor tissue contains higher concentrations of trace elements. The result could represent a starting point for the development of targeted therapies for bone cancer.
“The results show that the concentration of iron and zinc in the tumor tissue is several times higher than in healthy tissue. The tumor tissue therefore appears to create an environment in which trace elements are able to form bonds more easily. We are keen, however, to investigate the role of trace elements in more detail in further studies.” said Jochen Hofstätter of the University Department of Orthopaedics at the MedUni Vienna.
Most cases of osteosarcoma, malignant bone tumor are diagnosed in young people aged between ten and 25 years. The causes of osteosarcoma are still largely unknown. Surgical intervention is the only targeted treatment method done today and drug-based treatments is relatively narrow compared to other types of cancer.
“Compared to other methods, this investigation is the most technically challenging, but also the most accurate. The results we have achieved, made possible only through the cooperation of three institutions, demonstrate how important interdisciplinary and even cross-institution collaboration is for successful research,” said Hofstätter
The result of the study could be a new approach to bone cancer therapy. “In the field of drug-based therapy for osteosarcoma, there are still many unanswered questions: some tumors respond to chemotherapy, some don’t. These new results could offer an approach for new, targeted and personalized forms of treatment.” said Reinhard Windhager, Head of the University Department of Orthopaedics at the MedUni Vienna and Vienna General Hospital and a member of the study group.
News sourced from: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/07/140721100121.htm