In a new breakthrough British scientists have discovered a “rogue gene” which helps cancer spread around the body and add that this could mean specific therapy, if developed against the gene, could stop cancer spread.
The study came from the University of East Anglia which promised that within a decade there may be drugs to stop spread of cancer. The gene in question is the WWP2 that is an enzymic bonding agent found inside cancer cells. The study appeared in the journal Oncogene on Monday. The gene attacks and breaks down a naturally-occurring protein in the body which normally prevents cancer cells from spreading.
In the lab the scientists found that by blocking WWP2, levels of the natural inhibitor protein were boosted and the cancer cells remained dormant. Everyone is born with the gene WWP2 though scientists are still unsure as to its exact purpose in the body. But they have discovered that it is present in high quantities at the time when tumors become malignant and start spreading around the body. One of the scientists involved in the research, Surinder Soond said it was a, “novel and exciting approach to treating cancer and the spread of tumors which holds great potential.”
Andrew Chantry of UEA’s school of biological sciences, who led the research added, “The challenge now is to identify a potent drug that will get inside cancer cells and destroy the activity of the rogue gene.” He also said that this was “a difficult but not impossible task” which would be made easier by the better understanding of the biological processes gained in this early research. He said his team is now working with other scientists to try to design a drug which could interrupt the gene’s activity.
The research was funded by UK-based charity the Association of International Cancer Research (AICR), with additional support from the Big C Charity and the British Skin Foundation. Dr Mark Matfield, scientific coordinator of AICR, said, “This is a very exciting new discovery and a perfect example of the way that basic research into cancer can open up ways to develop new ways to treat cancer.”
Cancer Research UK said the study improved understanding of the disease, but was still at the laboratory stage. Dr Kat Arney, science information manager at Cancer Research UK, said, “Over recent decades researchers all over the world have discovered genes that drive the growth and spread of cancer, and this research adds one more to this ever-growing list…But, while these new results aid our understanding of the complexities of cancer and could point towards potential leads for future anti-cancer drugs, the work is still at the laboratory stage.”
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