This news story is based on research carried out in the Netherlands that examined the role of a specific type of cell, called mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), in the development of resistance to chemotherapy. Although these non-cancerous cells occur naturally in the body, some research has indicated that they can play a role in tumours growing and spreading. This latest research involved a series of experiments in mice to determine whether these cells were also involved in tumours developing drug resistance. It looked at whether they produced resistance against a variety of chemotherapy drugs.