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Cancer cells can alter their shape to adapt to different environments, enabling them to spread throughout the body and evade treatment. Scientists have recently uncovered how skin cancer cells shapeshift depending on their surroundings and have identified two genes that control this process. This groundbreaking discovery provides potential drug targets to prevent melanoma cancer from spreading.
The Discovery
In a study published in the prestigious journal Cell Reports, researchers delved into the mechanisms of cancer cell shape-shifting. They found that cancer cells can change shape to infiltrate different tissues, a process crucial for metastasis, the spread of cancer throughout the body.
The research team, led by Professor Chris Bakal of The Institute of Cancer Research, discovered that cancer cells can adapt their shape to navigate obstacles in their path. This ability is particularly dangerous when cancer cells travel to distant organs, leading to life-threatening metastatic cancer.
The Impact of Cancer Cell Metastasis
Metastasis is a significant factor in cancer progression, with a study revealing that 66.7% of cancer deaths from solid tumors were attributed to metastases. Understanding how cancer cells determine their shape in response to different cues is crucial for developing effective treatments.
To investigate this further, scientists developed a novel system to study cancer cells in a three-dimensional (3D) environment. By imaging melanoma cells in 3D, researchers gained valuable insights into how these cells behave in a more realistic setting.
Unveiling the Key Genes
Through their research, scientists identified two genes, TIAM2 and FARP1, as critical in controlling the shape-shifting ability of cancer cells. These genes play a vital role in determining how cancer cells respond to their environment and adapt their shape accordingly.
The study revealed that TIAM2 influences cell shape independently of the environment, while FARP1 regulates shape changes based on the surrounding conditions. This finding suggests that cancer cells can alter their shape in both environment-dependent and independent ways.
Potential for Targeted Therapies
By targeting these shape-controlling genes, researchers believe it may be possible to prevent melanoma cancer cells from changing shape and spreading. Inhibiting these genes could represent a novel approach to halting metastasis and improving patient outcomes.
Furthermore, the structural similarity of these genes to proteins targeted by existing drugs offers promising avenues for drug discovery. By leveraging 3D imaging data, researchers can predict how drugs will interact with cancer cells, potentially accelerating the development of new treatments.
Advancing Drug Discovery with AI
The research team is now exploring the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to streamline drug discovery processes. By analyzing vast amounts of 3D cell shape data, AI algorithms can identify promising drug candidates that target the genes involved in cancer cell shape-shifting.
This innovative approach has the potential to revolutionize cancer treatment by accelerating the development of targeted therapies. With AI’s ability to process complex data rapidly, researchers aim to expedite the identification of effective treatments for metastatic cancer.
Prof. Chris Bakal was speaking to Blake Forman, Senior Science Writer & Editor for Technology Networks.
About the interviewee:
Chris Bakal is a professor of cancer morphodynamics at The Institute of Cancer Research. He received his undergraduate degree in Biochemistry at the University of British Columbia and his PhD in Medical Biophysics at the University of Toronto and the Ontario Cancer Institute. His current research focuses on understanding how cells change shape, become cancerous and form metastases.
Reference: Dent L, Curry N, Sparks H, et al. Environmentally dependant and independent control of 3D cell shape. Cell Rep. 2024. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114016
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