Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, responsible for approximately 9.6 million deaths in 2018.

One of the reasons why it is so deadly is because cancer cells can spread from their primary site to distant organs or tissues in the body, a process known as metastasis. Until recently, how cancer cells move throughout the body was a mystery to scientists.

Experts discover new insights on how cancer moves throughout the body

A team of scientists from the University of California, San Diego, and the University of Texas have uncovered new insights into how cancer cells move from one location to another in the body.

Their study, which was published in the journal Cell Reports, found that cancer cells rely on a protein called PEA-15 to escape from their primary site and enter the bloodstream.

The role of PEA-15 in cancer cell movement

PEA-15 is a protein that regulates cell movement in normal cells. In cancer cells, however, PEA-15 is overexpressed, and this overexpression is associated with more aggressive forms of cancer.

The researchers found that in cancer cells, PEA-15 helps to break down the cell-to-cell connections that keep cells in place and prevent them from moving around in the body.

Metastasis: how cancer spreads throughout the body

Metastasis is a complex process that involves several steps. First, cancer cells must detach from their primary site and enter the bloodstream or lymphatic system.

Once they are in the circulation, they must then travel to a distant organ or tissue and attach to the cells there. Finally, they must proliferate and form a new tumor at the secondary site.

Related Article New Study Reveals Cancer’s Means Of Spreading

How cancer cells detach from their primary site

The researchers found that PEA-15 plays a key role in the first step of metastasis – the detachment of cancer cells from their primary site.

They found that when cancer cells are exposed to the protein, it triggers a series of signaling pathways that lead to the breakdown of cell-to-cell connections and allow the cancer cells to detach and enter the circulation.

Why the study is important

Understanding how cancer cells move throughout the body is crucial for developing new treatments and therapies that can prevent or slow down metastasis.

If we can find ways to block the actions of PEA-15, we could potentially stop cancer cells from detaching from their primary site and entering the circulation. This could make it easier to treat cancer and improve patient outcomes.

The future of cancer research

The study of how cancer cells move throughout the body is still in its early stages, but scientists are making rapid progress.

With new technologies and techniques for studying cancer at the molecular level, we are getting closer to understanding how cancer works and how we can stop it.

Conclusion

The discovery of how cancer cells move throughout the body is a major breakthrough in cancer research.

By understanding the role of proteins like PEA-15 in the metastatic process, we can develop new treatments that can stop cancer in its tracks and improve patient outcomes. While there is still much to learn about cancer, the future looks promising for those who are fighting this deadly disease.