Agi: Le cellule piccole e alterate peggiorano il cancro

AGI - Alcune cellule tumorali con numero anomalo di cromosomi e dimensioni inferiori al previsto potrebbero essere tra i principali fattori che rendono certi tumori più aggressivi e difficili da trattare. È quanto emerge da uno studio pubblicato sulla rivista Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) e coordinato da Daniela Cimini della Virginia Tech, che ha analizzato il comportamento delle cosiddette cellule tetraploidi durante la crescita tumorale.
Nelle cellule sane il patrimonio genetico è normalmente composto da due copie di ciascun cromosoma, una ereditata da ciascun genitore. Talvolta però durante la divisione cellulare possono verificarsi errori che alterano il numero dei cromosomi, favorendo l’insorgenza di malattie come il cancro.
Il ruolo delle cellule tetraploidi
I ricercatori si sono concentrati in particolare sulle cellule tetraploidi, caratterizzate da quattro copie complete dei cromosomi. Questa condizione è spesso associata alla progressione tumorale e a prognosi peggiori nei pazienti oncologici.
Modelli sperimentali e risultati
Per studiare il fenomeno, il gruppo di ricerca ha indotto cellule tumorali diploidi a duplicare i cromosomi senza completare la divisione cellulare, ottenendo così cellule tetraploidi da utilizzare nei modelli sperimentali. Confrontando tumori originati da cellule normali e da cellule tetraploidi nei topi, gli scienziati hanno osservato che, pur diminuendo numericamente durante la crescita del tumore, le cellule tetraploidi favorivano una rapida espansione della massa tumorale.
Interazione con le cellule stromali
Secondo gli autori, il fenomeno sarebbe legato alla capacità di queste cellule di reclutare cellule stromali non tumorali, elementi del tessuto connettivo che forniscono sostegno strutturale e supportano la progressione del cancro.
Un risultato inatteso
"La presenza anche di una piccola quantità di cellule tetraploidi può promuovere il reclutamento di cellule non cancerose che favoriscono ulteriormente la crescita tumorale", spiega Megan Sweet, prima autrice dello studio. Nel corso della ricerca è emerso però anche un secondo risultato inatteso.
Cellule più piccole e più aggressive
Quando i ricercatori hanno isolato diversi cloni di cellule tumorali tetraploidi di origine umana, hanno scoperto che alcune risultavano dal 25 al 30 per cento più piccole rispetto alle dimensioni previste. Proprio queste cellule più piccole si sono rivelate le più aggressive.
Resistenza e crescita tumorale
"Le cellule più piccole crescono più rapidamente, sono più invasive e tollerano meglio i comuni farmaci antitumorali e le condizioni di stress", osserva Mat Bloomfield, coautore dello studio. Gli esperimenti condotti nei modelli murini hanno confermato che i tumori costituiti da cellule tetraploidi più piccole tendevano ad aumentare di dimensione più velocemente.
Diversi tipi di tumore
Lo stesso comportamento è stato osservato sia nei tumori del colon-retto sia in quelli della mammella.
Dati clinici umani
Per verificare se il fenomeno fosse presente anche nell’uomo, il gruppo di ricerca ha analizzato i dati del Cancer Genome Atlas, grande archivio internazionale di campioni tumorali umani. L’analisi ha mostrato che la presenza di cellule tetraploidi di piccole dimensioni era associata a prognosi peggiori e minore sopravvivenza in diversi tipi di tumore.
Implicazioni cliniche future
"Sapevamo già che la tetraploidia può aumentare il potenziale tumorale delle cellule", spiega Daniela Cimini. "Ora abbiamo scoperto che includere anche la dimensione cellulare rende possibile prevedere con maggiore precisione l’aggressività del tumore". Secondo gli autori, i risultati potrebbero aprire nuove prospettive nello sviluppo di biomarcatori prognostici e terapie mirate contro le cellule tumorali più aggressive. I prossimi studi saranno dedicati ad approfondire i meccanismi biologici che collegano dimensione cellulare, alterazioni cromosomiche e progressione del cancro.

For Silicon Valley, human capital has “little value.”

Bill Winters’ words sparked debate, as the CEO of Standard Chartered – a multinational British bank based in London employing around 82,000 people – was accused of calling […]

Silicon Valley considered human capital “of little value” first appeared on il manifesto.

#SiliconValley #BillWinters #StandardChartered #British #London #first

https://ilmanifesto.it/per-silicon-valley-il-capitale-umano-ha-scarso-valore

qwant news | 'I don't think we're going to have the kind of jobs apocalypse that some…advocate or talk about': OpenAI CEO Sam Altman says he's 'delighted to be wrong' about AI-induced job cuts

AI generated summary, Read the full article for complete information.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has cautioned that the feared “jobs apocalypse” from generative AI is unlikely to materialise, noting that the impact on entry‑level white‑collar roles has been smaller than he expected; however, recent cuts at companies such as Intuit (3,000 jobs), Meta (over twice that), Standard Chartered (planning to replace around 8,000 lower‑value roles) and HSBC illustrate that AI‑driven workforce reductions are already occurring, with some firms seeing up to 17 % of staff eliminated. While Altman’s view suggests a less dramatic long‑term effect, the author argues that an independent, unbiased assessment of AI’s true impact on employment is needed, as many workers are already being displaced by chatbots and AI agents.

Read more: https://www.pcgamer.com/software/ai/i-dont-think-were-going-to-have-the-kind-of-jobs-apocalypse-that-some-advocate-or-talk-about-openai-ceo-sam-altman-says-hes-delighted-to-be-wrong-about-ai-induced-job-cuts/

#SamAltman #OpenAI #CommonwealthBank #Meta #StandardChartered

Big Tech’s relentless campaign to force AI into every interaction is beginning to show real signs of backfiring as awareness grows of the cost.

https://www.computing.co.uk/opinion/2026/it-essentials-nobody-wants-this?utm_source=mastodon_org&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=May_Nobody

#ericschmidt #technews #ai #standardchartered #google #bigtech

Bill Winters, you've just stained your reputation for all time. A man in your position should know the meaning and power of words.

And should also know the phrase "Ratner moment". Because you've just had a doozie of one.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c98rqld1j3yo

#StandardChartered #BillWinters

BBC News | Bank boss sorry after describing workers as 'lower value human capital'

AI generated summary, Read the full article for complete information.

Standard Chartered’s chief executive Bill Winters apologized after describing employees whose jobs are vulnerable to AI as “lower‑value human capital” during a conference on automation, saying the bank plans to cut about 15 % of its back‑office workforce—roughly 7,800 roles—over the next four years. He clarified that the aim is not cost‑cutting but replacing certain roles with financial and investment capital, and stressed the bank’s responsibility to help staff transition to higher‑value positions through reskilling programs. Following his LinkedIn posts, Winters expressed regret for the phrasing that upset colleagues, reaffirmed his commitment to supporting staff amid rapid industry change, and shared the full remarks to demonstrate that he values all employees. The comments highlighted both support for the reskilling effort and criticism of the wording, noting that the CEO may be remembered for labeling workers as “lower value.”

Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c98rqld1j3yo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

#BillWinters #StandardChartered #LinkedIn

BBC News | Bank boss sorry after describing workers as 'lower value human capital'

AI generated summary, Read the full article for complete information.

Standard Chartered CEO Bill Winters apologized after describing employees whose jobs could be replaced by AI as “lower‑value human capital,” saying his wording caused upset. He clarified that the bank plans to cut about 15% of back‑office roles—roughly 7,800 positions—over four years as automation expands, but emphasized its responsibility to help affected staff develop new skills and move into higher‑value roles. Winters reiterated that the bank values all colleagues and is committed to supporting them through the rapid changes brought by AI, despite criticism that his comments suggested a devaluation of certain workers.

Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c98rqld1j3yo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

#BillWinters #StandardChartered #Amazon #Microsoft #LinkedIn

The Daily Beast Latest Articles | Multi-Millionaire Bank Boss Grovels After Four-Word Insult to Workers by Wiktoria Gucia

AI generated summary, Read the full article for complete information.

Standard Chartered CEO Bill Winters sparked a backlash after telling an investor conference that artificial intelligence would replace “lower‑value human capital” and that the bank intends to cut about 8,000 support roles – roughly 15 % of corporate‑function jobs – over the next four years; critics including former Singapore President Halimah Yacob condemned the phrasing as dehumanising. In response, Winters used LinkedIn to first clarify that he meant lower‑value roles were more vulnerable to automation and that the bank would help staff move into higher‑value positions, and then posted an apology with a transcript to show he values all colleagues and is committed to supporting them through the transition. The London‑headquartered bank, which earns over half its income in Asia, Africa and the Middle East, referred media inquiries to his LinkedIn posts.

Read more: https://www.thedailybeast.com/standard-chartered-boss-bill-winters-grovels-after-four-word-insult-to-workers/

#BillWinters #StandardChartered #HalimahYacob #LinkedIn #story

Novara Media | Bank CEO Calls Workers ‘Lower-Value Human Capital’ and Plans to Replace Them With AI by Tom Midlane

AI generated summary, Read the full article for complete information.

The CEO of Standard Chartered, Bill Winters, sparked a shareholder and public backlash after describing staff he intends to replace with artificial intelligence as “lower‑value human capital,” announcing plans to cut nearly 8,000 jobs – about 15 % of back‑office positions – as the bank ramps up AI and automation to boost profitability; the remarks were condemned by Singapore’s president and widely criticized on social media as dehumanising, while Winters later claimed his comments were taken out of context, noting his own £12.7 million pay last year and emphasizing that the changes reflect evolving work rather than the worth of employees.

Read more: https://novaramedia.com/2026/05/21/bank-ceo-calls-workers-lower-value-human-capital-and-plans-to-replace-them-with-ai/

#BillWinters #StandardChartered #HalimahYacob #London #AI #MarieAntoinette