Scientists have uncovered molecules released by invasive skin cancer that reprogram healthy immune cells to help the cancer to spread. Targeting these molecules with inhibiting drugs could help to prevent this aggressive skin cancer coming back after treatment. The findings are published in Cell.
Researchers looked at cells from the edges of invasive melanomas in mice and human tumor samples, to investigate the effects of a protein they produce - called Myosin II. They found that high levels of Myosin II in these cells not only makes them more mobile, but also triggers the release of chemicals that reprogram the immune system.
These chemicals affect the surrounding healthy immune cells, called macrophages, and hijack their natural cancer-killing abilities. This means that instead of attacking the cancer cells, they end up helping them to survive. Some of these chemicals also make tiny holes in the blood vessels, allowing cancer cells to escape into the bloodstream and to new areas of the body.
The lead author said: "This study highlights how cancer cells interact with and influence their surrounding environment to grow and spread. Developing treatments that target the chemicals that alter the immune system could help to prevent the spread of the disease."
Researchers also found that one of the chemicals released by Myosin II-rich cells, called interleukin 1A, was key for making cancer cells more invasive. By blocking Myosin II activity with different drugs, they reduced the amount of interleukin 1A produced by melanoma cells in mice and human tumor samples.
Drugs that block Myosin II activity are already being used to treat diseases such as glaucoma, a progressive disease of the eye. Researchers are planning further lab studies to investigate whether drugs that block Myosin II could be combined with existing melanoma treatments.
The author adds "We are excited to find out whether inhibitor drugs could be used in combination with other targeted therapies. By identifying effective treatment combinations, we hope that in the future Myosin II and interleukin 1A inhibitors could be used to improve patient outcomes and reduce the risk of melanoma coming back."
https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-us/cancer-news/press-release/2019-01-31-skin-cancer-can-spread-in-mice-by-hijacking-the-immune-system
https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(18)31652-0
http://sciencemission.com/site/index.php?page=news&type=view&id=publications%2Fregional-activation-of&filter=22
Latest News
Bitter taste receptor activ…
By newseditor
Posted 20 Apr
Metabolic rewiring promotes…
By newseditor
Posted 18 Apr
A drug to prevent flu-induc…
By newseditor
Posted 18 Apr
New origin of deep brain waves
By newseditor
Posted 17 Apr
Starving cells hijack prote…
By newseditor
Posted 17 Apr
Other Top Stories
Epigenetics of addiction!
Read more
Extracellular vesicles involved in intracellular signaling!
Read more
Melanoma Cells Rewire to Resist Drug Treatment
Read more
New functions of hippocampus unveiled
Read more
Treating postdiet body weight rebound
Read more
Protocols
MemPrep, a new technology f…
By newseditor
Posted 08 Apr
A tangible method to assess…
By newseditor
Posted 08 Apr
Stem cell-derived vessels-o…
By newseditor
Posted 06 Apr
Single-cell biclustering fo…
By newseditor
Posted 01 Apr
Modular dual-color BiAD sen…
By newseditor
Posted 31 Mar
Publications
RNA-DNA triplexes: molecula…
By newseditor
Posted 20 Apr
Will cellular immunotherapi…
By newseditor
Posted 20 Apr
How does the microbiota con…
By newseditor
Posted 18 Apr
The integrated stress respo…
By newseditor
Posted 18 Apr
The immunobiology of herpes…
By newseditor
Posted 17 Apr
Presentations
Hydrogels in Drug Delivery
By newseditor
Posted 12 Apr
Lipids
By newseditor
Posted 31 Dec
Cell biology of carbohydrat…
By newseditor
Posted 29 Nov
RNA interference (RNAi)
By newseditor
Posted 23 Oct
RNA structure and functions
By newseditor
Posted 19 Oct
Posters
A chemical biology/modular…
By newseditor
Posted 22 Aug
Single-molecule covalent ma…
By newseditor
Posted 04 Jul
ASCO-2020-HEALTH SERVICES R…
By newseditor
Posted 23 Mar
ASCO-2020-HEAD AND NECK CANCER
By newseditor
Posted 23 Mar
ASCO-2020-GENITOURINARY CAN…
By newseditor
Posted 23 Mar