Some cancer cells that are aggressive on Earth turn considerably less aggressive in outer space, scientists have found.
Researchers from Germany and Denmark found that thyroid cancer cells experience a re-differentiation to less aggressive state under the influence of micro-gravity.
By understanding the genetic and cellular processes that occur in space, scientists may be able to develop treatments that accomplish the same thing on Earth.
"Research in space or under simulated micro-gravity using ground-based facilities helps us in many ways to understand the complex processes of life and this study is the first step toward the understanding of the mechanisms of cancer growth inhibition in micro-gravity," said Daniela Gabriele Grimm, a researcher from the Department of Biomedicine, Pharmacology at Aarhus University in Aarhus, Denmark.
"Ultimately, we hope to find new cellular targets, leading to the development of new anti-cancer drugs which might help to treat those tumours that prove to be non-responsive to the currently employed agents," said Grimm.
Grimm and colleagues used the Science in Micro-gravity Box (SIMBOX) experimental facility aboard China's Shenzhou-8 spacecraft, which was launched on October 31, 2011.
Cell feeding was automatically performed in space on day five and automated cell fixation was conducted on day 10. Inflight control was achieved by using a centrifuge in space.
On November 17, 2011, Shenzhou-8 landed and the experimental samples were analysed.
Additional cells were analysed using a random positioning machine which aims to achieve simulated micro-gravity conditions on the ground by rotating a sample around two axes operated in a random real direction mode.
Both cell types were investigated with respect to their gene expression and secretion profiles, employing modern molecular biological techniques, such as whole genome micro-arrays and multi-analyte profiling.
Results suggested that the expression of genes indicating a high malignancy in cancer cells may be down-regulated under altered gravitational stimulation.
The research appears in The FASEB Journal.
