The cells were launched into the International Space Station (ISS) via the second Axiom Space Private Astronaut Mission, Axiom Mission 2 (Ax-2).
The experiments, conducted by a team at the University of California San Diego Sanford Stem Cell Institute, aim to expand the scientists' understanding of human stem cell ageing, inflammation and cancer in low-Earth orbit.
During the first Axiom Mission, in 2021, the team discovered that cancer stem cells regenerate more easily and become more resistant to standard therapies in low-Earth orbit, due to the microgravity conditions.
Two enzymes that edit DNA and RNA (APOBEC3C and ADAR1) were found to activate themselves in a significant way during space stays, increasing cancer proliferation and immune evasion.
In this new mission, the team will test two ADAR1 inhibitors (Fedratinib and Rebecsinib) to see if the drugs can reverse this regeneration process for leukaemia, breast cancer and colorectal cancer cells...