Researchers from biotechnology company Genentech have announced that they have managed to grow new prostate glands in mice by using adult stem cells.
Wei-Qiang Gao and colleagues found that they could grow new prostate glands by implanting a single adult stem with the phenotype Lin-Sca-1+CD133+CD44+CD117+ into the animals.
The development is highly unlikely to lead to the development of a technique to grow new prostate glands for men who have had their prostate removed, however it is hoped that it will enable researchers to learn more about prostate cancer. Furthermore, knowing which cells play a role in the pathogenesis of the disease will help scientists to develop treatments that specifically target such cells.
Leong KG, Wang BE, johnson L, Gao WQ. Generation of a prostate from a single adult stem cell (letter). Nature. Advance online publication 22 October 2008. doi:10.1038/nature07427
