The Telegraph is reporting on the latest science coming out of the Mayo Clinic in Florida where researchers say they may have found a biologic step that can restore normalcy to cells that are replicating out of control – which is what causes the growth of cancerous tumors.
For the first time ever, aggressive breast, lung and bladder cancer cells were coaxed back into harmless benign cells by restoring the function which prevents them from the kind of excessive multiplication that turns these cells into malignant growths.
“Cells need to divide constantly to replace themselves. But in cancer the cells do not stop dividing leading to huge cell reproduction and tumour growth,” the Telegraph explains.
“The scientists discovered that the glue which holds cells together is regulated by biological microprocessors called microRNAs. When everything is working normally the microRNAs instruct the cells to stop dividing when they have replicated sufficiently. They do this by triggering production of a protein called PLEKHA7 which breaks the cell bonds. But in cancer that process does not work.”
However, scientists have discovered that they can switch on cancer in cells by removing the microRNAs from cells and preventing them from producing the protein. And, crucially they found that they could reverse the process – sort of like switching the brakes back on to stop a speeding car - and stop the cancer.
“MicroRNAs are small molecules which can be delivered directly to cells or tumours so an injection to increase levels could switch off disease.”
Thus far, it has only been tested in the laboratory but researchers are hopeful that the technique may one day be able to target tumors and “switch off” cancer without the need for harsh chemotherapy or invasive surgery.
"We should be able to re-establish the brakes and restore normal cell function,” said Profesor Panos Anastasiadis, of the Department for Cancer Biology. “Initial experiments in some aggressive types of cancer are indeed very promising.
“It represents an unexpected new biology that provides the code, the software for turning off cancer."
Scientists still have a way to go before determining if this will really work in the treatment of cancer.
Henry Scowcroft, Cancer Research UK’s senior science information manager, told the BBC: “This important study solves a long-standing biological mystery, but we mustn’t get ahead of ourselves.
“There’s a long way to go before we know whether these findings, in cells grown in a laboratory, will help treat people with cancer. But it’s a significant step forward in understanding how certain cells in our body know when to grow, and when to stop. Understanding these key concepts is crucial to help continue the encouraging progress against cancer we’ve seen in recent years.”
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