Embryonic Stem Cells As Anti-cancer Labs

Amid the premature hype about induced pluripotent stem cells (hyped by everyone but the scientists who did the work themselves), the unique characteristics of embryonic stem cells as platforms for learning about human disease can too easily be lost. An important new study should help correct this oversight.

A distinguished team of Northwestern University researchers has found that a gene called Lefty that is only made in human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) suppresses the growth of melanoma and breast cancer cells. They also noted an increase in deaths of the killer cells. The hESC environment might make it possible to develop new cancer therapies.

Of course, the Bush administration and its allies prefer to wait out the clock in order to take the stem cell issue, which polls badly for them, off the table. Will the White House domestic policy council, which appears only to recognize science that vindicates their policy preferences, comment on the Northwestern teams’ result? We can live in hope.

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