New cellular discovery shows promise for treating painful lymphedema
A groundbreaking cellular mechanism has been uncovered, offering a glimmer of hope for those suffering from lymphedema, a painful swelling condition that currently has no cure. This discovery could revolutionize the way we approach this debilitating condition.
Lymphedema, a condition that can be congenital or caused by injury, often strikes as an unintended consequence of breast cancer treatment. It occurs when the lymphatic system, responsible for moving fluid throughout the body via specialized vessels, is damaged, leading to fluid accumulation in tissues. This results in painful swelling, which can significantly impact a person's quality of life.
A team of researchers has made a significant breakthrough by discovering a cellular process that promotes lymphatic vessel growth. Initially observed in zebrafish, this process has been shown to work in human lymphatic cells as well.
The key to this discovery lies in a molecule known as 'insulin-like growth factor' (IGF). Scientists found that IGF accelerates the growth of lymphatic vessels in zebrafish, offering the potential to repair damaged vessels. This was further confirmed when they successfully grew human cells in the lab and observed that IGF could also instruct human lymphatic vessels to grow.
Dr. Jonathan Astin, a senior lecturer in molecular medicine and pathology, highlights the significance of this finding. He states, "This work is of interest to the medical community as it provides an additional way to induce lymphatic vessel growth." This is particularly crucial for individuals with lymphedema, as Astin notes, "In Aotearoa New Zealand, approximately 20 percent of women who have lymph nodes removed as part of breast cancer treatment will develop lymphedema, and currently, there is no cure."
The research, conducted in Astin's lab by doctoral student Dr. Wenxuan Chen, involved collaborations with Dr. Kate Lee, Dr. Justin Rustenhoven, and Professor Stefan Bohlander. They utilized zebrafish due to their simplicity and remarkable similarity to humans. Astin explains, "The advantage of using fish is that we can fluorescently label lymphatic vessels so that they glow and then image vessel growth in a whole larva or embryo without impacting its growth."
The next step in this research is to test an IGF-based therapy on mice with lymphedema to assess its effectiveness. While Astin remains cautious about making bold promises, he emphasizes the potential for this discovery to become a therapy for this painful, incurable condition in the future.
Source: Chen, W., et al. (2026). Insulin-like growth factor signaling regulates zebrafish lymphatic-vessel development. Cell Reports. DOI:10.1016/j.celrep.2026.116971. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211124726000495?via%3Dihub
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