Exciting discovery could 'stop cancer from killing people'

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Public release date: 14-Dec-2008

Contact: Fernandes

a.fernandes@...

0

Queen , University of London

Exciting discovery could 'stop cancer from killing people'

Metastasis is the ability of cancer cells to spread from a primary site,

to form tumours at distant sites. It is a complex process in which cell

motility and invasion play a fundamental role. Essential to our

understanding of how metastasis develops is identification of the

molecules, and characterisation of the mechanisms that regulate cell

motility. Hitherto, these mechanisms have been poorly understood. Now, a

team of researchers lead by Professor Marco Falasca at Barts and The

London School of Medicine and Dentistry has shown not only that the

enzyme phospholipase Cγ1 (PLCγ1) plays a crucial role in metastasis

formation, but that down regulation of PLCγ1 expression is able to

revert metastasis progression.

The team investigated the role of PLCγ1 in cell invasion and metastasis

using different approaches to modulate its expression in highly invasive

cancer cell lines. Their results showed that PLCγ1 is required for

breast cancer cell invasion and activation of the protein Rac1. They

revealed a functional link between PLCγ1 and Rac1 that provides insight

into processes regulating cell invasion.

Professor Falasca explained: " Consistent with these data we detected an

increase in PLC1 expression in metastases compared to primary tumours in

breast cancer patients. Therefore PLCγ1 is critical for metastasis

formation, and development and inhibition of this enzyme has a

therapeutic potential in the treatment of metastasis dissemination. "

" This is an exciting discovery. He has shown that turning off this

molecule prevents metastasis. The simple fact is that if you stop

metastasis, you stop cancer from killing people. We now need to focus on

developing drugs that can block PLCγ1. "

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'Phospholipase Cγ1 is Required for Metastasis Development and

Progression' is published in Cancer Research on Monday 15 December 2009.

The research was supported by The Association for International Cancer

Research and by the European Commission FP6 program Apotherapy.

For further information contact:

Fernandes

Communications Office

Queen , University of London

Tel: 020 7882 7910

Email: a.fernandes@...

Notes to editors:

Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry

Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry – at Queen ,

University of London - offers international levels of excellence in

research and teaching while serving a population of unrivalled diversity

amongst which cases of diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, TB, oral

disease and cancers are prevalent, within east London and the wider

Thames Gateway. Through partnership with our linked trusts, notably

Barts and The London NHS Trust, and our associated University Hospital

trusts – Homerton, Newham, Whipps Cross and Queen's – the School's

research and teaching is informed by an exceptionally wide ranging and

stimulating clinical environment.

At the heart of the School's mission lies world class research, the

result of a focused programme of recruitment of leading research groups

from the UK and abroad and a £100 million investment in state-of-the-art

facilities. Research is focused on translational research, cancer,

cardiology, clinical pharmacology, inflammation, infectious diseases,

stem cells, dermatology, gastroenterology, haematology, diabetes,

neuroscience, surgery and dentistry.

The School is nationally and internationally recognised for research in

these areas, reflected in the £40 million it attracts annually in

research income. Its fundamental mission, with its partner NHS Trusts,

and other partner organisations such as CRUK, is to ensure that that the

best possible clinical service is underpinned by the very latest

developments in scientific and clinical teaching, training and research.

--

ne Holden, MS, RD

" Ask the Parkinson Dietitian " http://www.parkinson.org/

" Eat well, stay well with Parkinson's disease "

" Parkinson's disease: Guidelines for Medical Nutrition Therapy "

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