Mouth stem cells could help beat brain cancer defenses

Stem cells found in the lining of the mouth could help make the most aggressive form of brain cancer easier to treat, according to new research from the University of Reading. The stem cells release a mixture of proteins and tiny particles into their surroundings, and when tested on human brain cancer cells transplanted into mouse brain tissue, they slowed the cancer's growth, made it harder for cancer cells to move around, and reduced the number and size of tumors that formed. When administered alongside the primary chemotherapy treatment for this cancer, they led to greater tumor reduction without harming the surrounding healthy brain tissue.