Expert finds 'switch' which allows cancer to spread
Cancer is expected to become the single biggest killer in the world in 2010, with one major reason for mortality being the fact that the disease can spread throughout the body.
However, one expert in the US believes he has found the 'switch' which allows cancer to spread and grow in other parts.
Dr Ge Jin, who has joint appointments at the Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine and the Lerner Research Institute at the Cleveland Clinic, has discovered that a process known as epithelial-mesenchymal transdifferientiation (EMT) occurs because of a trigger.
According to the specialist, a compound called transforming growth factor-B (TGF-B) triggers the formation of the Dab2 protein, which activates the EMT process and allows cancer to spread and develop in other parts of the body.
He discovered that when the researchers knocked out Dab2, EMT was not triggered, and said this could lead to the progression of the disease being halted.
"This is the major piece in cancer research that has been missing. EMT is the most important step in this process," Dr Jin said.
He was part of a larger study group headed by Philip Howe, from the Department of Cancer Biology at the Lerner Research Institute, who studied the biological processes that initiated the cancer spread by using cancer cells in animal models.
"It's a complicated cascade process. If we can understand the signalling pathway for modulating EMT, then we can design drugs to delay or halt EMT cells and control tumour progression," he said.
The specialist added that understanding the spread of cancer may also lead to healthcare experts identifying how other conditions can develop.
Posted by Stephen Tate
Take a look at our Health Insurance Plans. 
Adfero Ltd provides live and tailored breaking industry news for Chartis Direct. All industry news is prepared by Adfero Ltd and as such does not represent the views or opinions of Chartis Direct a trading name of UNAT Direct Insurance Management Limited.
© Adfero Ltd 2008
