Protein Prevents Cancer Metastases
March 21, 2007 by Gloria Gamat
Filed under Diseases & Conditions
Stem cell and cancer scientists at the University of British Columbia have discovered new non-toxic and targeted therapies for metastatic breast and ovarian cancers.
[Metastatic cancer is invasive cancer that spreads from the original site to other sites in the body.]
Previously shown to be a predictor of metastatic breast cancer, the protein called podocalyxin has now been found to be able to change the shape and adhesive quality of tumour cells, thereby affecting their ability to grow and metastasize (or spread to other parts of the body).
According to Calvin Roskelley, an associate professor of cellular and physiological science who specializes in breast cancer and is co-senior principal investigator:
“We believe we’ve found a new important culprit in metastatic breast cancer, which opens up an entirely new avenue of cancer research.
The culprit is hiding in plain sight on the surface of tumour cells, so we are now developing “smart” molecules to block its function.
The ultimate goal is to generate new targeted, non-toxic treatments — very different from the standard ’slash and burn’ chemotherapy.”
The complete findings recently appeared online in the Public Library of Science (PLos).
Find more details from the full report.
