Oncologists have known for decades that breast, lung and prostate cancer cells often travel to the spine, but the reason has been unknown for decades. A new finding after five years of research suggests that a type of stem cell in the spine makes a protein that attracts tumor cells.
In a study published in Nature, the researchers named their discovery vertebral skeletal stem cells. A stem cell discovery is rare, and the study’s authors told the Post they’re excited for the therapeutic potential.