Plymouth: Scientists believe that fruit flies can help prevent the growth of brain tumors.
Experts at the Brain Tumor Research Center of Excellence at the University of Plymouth in the UK used Drosophila flies to examine cells during the first stage of tumor growth.
This research will help further understanding of glioma tumors, including more aggressive types of tumors like glioblastoma.
Glioblastoma tumors grow very quickly and damage healthy tissue, and the survival rate for these patients is very low.
Symptoms include worsening headache, blurred vision with nausea and vomiting, and seizures.
Lead author of the new research published in EMBO Reports, Dr. Claudia Beerus, said her team discovered processes that may be important in helping tumors form and grow.
Using the Drosophila fly as a model, the researchers identified and characterized cells in the early stages of brain tumors, he said.
He said that these cells have significant differences in metabolism and protein balance compared to healthy cells.
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