Stop circulating tumor cells
A substance has been found that prevents the spread of metastases in breast cancer
Alexey Yevglevsky, Naked Science
Biologists from the University of Basel (Switzerland) conducted large-scale tests of various substances and identified one that can stop the spread of metastases in breast cancer. The work was published in the journal Cell (Gkountela et al., Circulating Tumor Cell Clustering Shapes DNA Methylation to Enable Metastasis Seeding).
According to researchers, 90 percent of cancer deaths are associated with metastasis (the process of formation of secondary tumor foci). Such cases often turn out to be incurable, due to the fact that metastases affect vital organs, such as the brain or liver. Specialists from the University of Basel have identified a drug that can stop metastasis in breast cancer.
The main object of the study was circulating tumor cells (CCCs). They leave the main focus of the disease and enter the bloodstream. In the blood, they are found both in the form of individual cells and in the form of interlocking clusters. These clusters are the precursors of metastases, they lead to epigenetic changes that contribute to metastasis. At the same time, CSCs mimic embryonic stem cells and are capable of proliferation (tissue proliferation by cell division). However, cluster decomposition reverses epigenetic changes and prevents metastasis.
In the work, the authors experimented with 2,486 compounds, the use of which is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. As a result, they found an inhibitor of Na+/K+-ATPASE, which dissociates COC clusters.
Schematic representation of the metastasis index of the control and experimental groups / © Cell
The head of the study Nicola Aceto (Nicola Aceto) he told about the achievements of the team:
"We tried to find an approach to fighting cancer that would differ from the generally accepted ones. As a result, they found a drug that does not kill cancer cells, but separates them."
The tests were conducted in vitro and on mice, but now the team plans to go further. They are going to organize clinical trials on people with breast cancer.
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