New Study Tells Researchers How Cancer Spreads

In the April 4, 2008 issue of Cell magazine, researchers describe how cells in the body communicate through cytokines, orchestrating molecules to direct various activities such as cell movement and growth. One cytokine in particular is used by cancer cells to catalyze a tumor's ability to spread to other cells, instead of suppress the growth.

"Our work shows that TGF-a enhances human breast cancer metatasis and reveals how tumor cells learn to exploit cytokines by making them work as a relay system to promote the spread of breast cancer," explained Joan Massagu, author of the study and chairwoman of the Cancer Biology and Genetics Program at MSKCC and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator.

The researchers are currently working to find out whether TGF-a and ANGPTL4 is also active in other types of cancers. Additionally, they are evaluating various ways to inhibit the action of the cytokines to prevent metastasis in patients who have cancer.

"Deciphering how cancer cells take advantage of these cytokines is essential for developing therapies that can prevent this process," said David Padua, coauthor of the study and graduate student in Massagu's lab. "Because cytokines act outside of cells they can be more easily targeted by drugs that block their activity."

The study concluded that ANGPTL4 may be a possible future target to interrupt the TGF-a stimulus of metastasis without blocking the beneficial effects of the molecule. Currently, a few pharmaceutical companies are proceeding with tests of TGF-a blocking compounds in clinical trials. Potential pharmaceuticals to treat melanoma, breast and other cancers are going through the clinical trial process.

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