"Cell Cannibalism: A Universal Phenomenon Across Life Forms"
A study by Arizona State University researchers reveals that cell-in-cell phenomena, where one cell engulfs and sometimes consumes another, are widespread across the tree of life and not limited to cancer cells. These interactions, which date back over 2 billion years, play crucial roles in normal development, homeostasis, and stress response in various organisms. The findings challenge the notion that such behaviors are inherently cancerous and suggest that targeting them for cancer treatment may be misguided. The research opens new avenues for understanding cellular cooperation, competition, and the evolution of multicellularity.
