Gene that can stop cancer cells spread found

Almaty. January 26. Kazakhstan Today - The scientists at the University of East Anglia has found a gene, which helps to stop the cancer spread, the agency reports.

A gene which encourages cancer to move around the body has been discovered by the University of East Anglia, BBC reported.

Experiments on tissue cultures, published in Oncogene, suggest that blocking it would prevent cancers spreading.

The researchers hope their work will lead to a new generation of cancer drugs within the decade.

Cancer Research UK said the study improved understanding of the disease, but was still at the laboratory stage.

There are treatments for primary cancers, but tumours have the potential to spread.

Cells can break off and travel around the body, through the bloodstream or lymph fluid, and start a new or secondary tumour where they land, a process known as metastasis. Breast cancers are known to spread to lymph nodes, the bones and the lungs.These secondary tumours are notoriously difficult to treat.

The team at the University of East Anglia has found a gene which helps the cancer spread.

Breast cancer has spread to the spine, skull, pelvis, ribs, shoulders, hips and knees

The gene, WWP2, leads to the breakdown of an inhibitor that normally keeps cells in check.

The researchers showed, in tissue cultures, that without the inhibitor, Smad7, cancer progressed very quickly and spread. Blocking the gene prevented that spread.

"The discovery could lead to the development of a new generation of drugs within the decade that could be used to stop the aggressive spread of most forms of the disease."

The team are now recruiting chemists to help them design a drug which could interrupt the gene's activity.

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