This article, in New Scientist, reports on research by microbiologists at the University of California. At first it would seem contradictory (to my theory) that stopping cells from sticking would stop them from becoming cancerous but the R factor is a generic one that is needed by cells to latch on to a neighbor just long enough to "handshake" with that neighbor using a more permanent R factor. The generic R factor is called galectin-3.
Think how difficult it would be to type on a computer keyboard if the keyboard were constantly in motion. You would have a very difficult time communicating and so would the cell trying to handshake using specific R factors.
Why would eliminating the generic glue help to eradicate the cancer? I think that this generic binding is the first step in cell recognition and without it the cell does not go on to express its entire repertoire of R factors. Expressing a single R factor would mean that immune cells now have the opportunity to locate and destroy. As you might recall, it is the constant expression of different R factors that allows a cancer cell to evade detection by immune cells--the same way a parasite does it.
Think how difficult it would be to type on a computer keyboard if the keyboard were constantly in motion. You would have a very difficult time communicating and so would the cell trying to handshake using specific R factors.
Why would eliminating the generic glue help to eradicate the cancer? I think that this generic binding is the first step in cell recognition and without it the cell does not go on to express its entire repertoire of R factors. Expressing a single R factor would mean that immune cells now have the opportunity to locate and destroy. As you might recall, it is the constant expression of different R factors that allows a cancer cell to evade detection by immune cells--the same way a parasite does it.
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