Genetic switch wipes out tumors in mice
Crucial gene stunts cell growth, halts progression to colon cancer
By Meghan Rosen
The gene Apc is like a club bouncer: It keeps cellular parties from growing out of control. By switching Apc on, researchers turned swelling mobs of mouse cancer cells (above) back into normal intestinal tissue (below).
Scientists knew Apc was involved in stifling tumor formation because most colon cancers find a way to turn the gene off. Lukas Dow, a cancer biologist at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City, and colleagues investigated Apc’s role by genetically engineering mice with a kind of Apc on/off switch.