Scientists find ‘pied piper’ cancer protein

by ROB McNEIL, Evening Standard

A ‘pied piper’ protein is responsible for leading cancer cells around the body, scientists have found.

The discovery – made by scientists in London – means that it may become possible to halt the spread of the disease by silencing certain signals sent out by the protein.

That would simplify cancer treatments and could save innumerable lives.

With current technology it is usually impossible to stop the cancer after it has spread to several organs.

Researchers at the Royal Marsden Hospital, Chelsea, found that breast cancer cells follow a protein called uPA that helps them to move around the body.

When scientists at the hospital’s Breakthrough Breast Cancer Research Centre managed to block the action of this protein with antibodies, the cells stopped moving.

It is hoped that the discovery will lead to new ways of stopping the spread of breast cancer.

The research, reported in the Journal of Cell Biology, showed that breast cancer cells producing a protein called Endo180 were attracted to uPA.

If either protein – Endo180 or uPA – was missing, the cells no longer moved.

Attempts were then made to block the action of uPA using antibodies that latched on to Endo180 – effectively silencing out the piper’s tune. Researchers found that this stopped the breast cancer cells being drawn to the uPA protein.

Clare Isacke, who led the study, said: “We now know that Endo180 antibodies have the potential to stop the spread of certain breast cancer cells.

“We also saw that Endo180 could regulate the formation of ‘filopodia’ or tiny antennae which extend from the cell and help it navigate.

“Preventing the spread of breast cancer is key to removing its fatality.”

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