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MIT scientists have discovered that endothelial cells, which line the blood vessels, secrete molecules that suppress tumor growth and keep cancer cells from invading other tissues, a finding that could lead to a new way to treat cancer.

"Similarly, how should cancer biologists think about cancer cells capable of producing vascular endothelial growth factor, a protein that promotes the growth of blood vessels? Clearly, the importance of this protein only makes sense when thinking about a cancer cell's environment: how close it is to blood vessels that it can exploit, for example."

"A new bioprinter developed at a hackerspace can print living cells for less than the cost of an iPod touch. 3-D bioprinters have the potential to change the way medical research is conducted, even print living tissue and replacement organs, but they are expensive and highly specialized. They literally build living structures, like blood vessels or skin tissue, cell by cell, revolutionizing biomedical engineering. Unfortunately, they're expensive, rare, and require a Ph.D. (or two) to operate successfully. Frustrated by their cost and exclusivity, a group of makers at the DIYbio hackerspace BioCurious are developing a system open to anyone with a soldering iron and a serious passion for cell biology."

International Stem Cell Corporation (ISCO) applauds the recent announcement by doctors at Sweden's Karolinska University Hospital on the creation of the world's first artificial trachea; ISCO would like our followers to understand that the concept of growing cells on a scaffold to treat diseases is showing success in our own research as exemplified by the following: 1) Collaboration with Cytograft in growing artificial blood vessels for treatment of lower limb ischemia.