Duke University Medical Center's Imaging Stem Cell Division Helps Identify Cancer Treatment Targets

DURHAM, N.C. – Using a novel method for seeing the division of stem cells in real time, Duke University Medical Center researchers believe they have identified an unexpected way to interfere with the uncontrolled cell growth that is characteristic of cancer. By watching what two known cancer-promoting proteins did to blood-forming stem cells, the researchers believe they have seen one protein speeding up cell division, and another controlling the maturation of cells -- both hallmarks of cancerous growth.