How Tumor Cells move, Protein breakthrough

Recent research, released by pharmacology scientists in Germany, have indicated how tumor cells move around from one place to another (metastases). A previously unknown factor of a cell is referred to as a 'cell signal factor' (SCAI), which acts as a suppressor of cancer cell invasion.
When the cell signal factor's functioning is disrupted, cancer cells move more affectively in what is known as three-dimensional matrix systems, initiating some of the tissue properties of the human body.
Dr.Robert Grosse, head of a research group, funded by Pharmacology Institute, University of Heidelberg, Germany, said "If cancer cells lack a certain protein, it could be much easier to penetrate healthy body tissue; the protein is suppressed in many types of tumors in breast, lung and thyroid".
Focusing on particularly aggressive cancers, tumor cells are extremely mobile and penetrate healthy tissue to form metastases, which are helped in their movement by special surface structures, referred to as receptors.
One of these receptors is known as b1-integrin, frequently forms in many tumors as metastesesing breast cancer.
Dr. Grosse continued "the signal cell factor (SCAI) controls the formation of b1-integrin, which if there is too little SCAI in tumor cells, then the receptor becomes overactive, allowing the cell to change more rapidly to a more aggressive form, penetrating tissue and forming another metasteses".
The research teram led by Dr.Grosse would like to study the function of cell signal factor (SCAI) more closely in an annimal model.
"If the function of SCAI is confirmed to be decisive in the formation of especially aggressive tumor cells, this could be a promising starting point for developing new diagnostic methods of medication" said Dr.Grosse.
It could be possible to develop an agent that prevents the genetic suppression of the signal factor in cancer cells.
"But first researchers need to better understand how the signal factor itself is regulated in the cell" Dr.Robert Grosse concluded. Acknowledgment medicalnewstoday.com Geoff.