Spanish scientists find a new means of slowing lung cancer metastases

Spanish scientists have found a new means of blocking metastasis in lung cancer. The study, directed by Dr. Ana Rouzaut, of the Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA) of the University of Navarra,offers an opportunity to use pre-existing drugs which stop the spread of cancer cells. The results have been published in the most recent issue of the scientific journal Plos One.

The CIMA researchers, in collaboration with the Centro de Investigación Biomédica de la Rioja (CIBIR),have shown that blocking a protein, β3 integrin, prevents the development of structures associated with metastasis. “This protein is necessary for invasion by cancer cells. Our work has shown that by blocking it we impede the formation of one of the cell structures, called invadopodia, associated with metastasis in the lungs”, Dr. Rouzaut, the research director, explained.

During their study, the researchers manipulated lung cancer cells through genetic engineering to obtain cells without β3 integrin. “We found that the new cells were absolutely incapable of developing invasive mechanisms, which is the first step for metastasis”, commented Dr. Rafael Peláez, the research leader. In order to prove that the studied cells had not acquired any other defect, the scientists returned the β3 integrinto the cells, which then recovered their invasive capacity.

In addition, they proved that the pharmacological blocking with an antibody directed at the β3 integrinproduces the same effects. That is to say, the application of said antibody impedes the formation of cell invasion structures and, therefore, in the future may be a new route to slow the development of lung cancer metastases.

This work opens a gateway for pharmaceutical companies which have already developed anticancer drugs to use them as therapies for lung metastases by directing them at the molecular “targets” identified in this research. “Moreover, these experiments have been carried out on lung cancer cells, but this effect may be common to other tumor cells, as many of them can form invadopodia, one of the structures responsible for the invasion”, the researchers concluded.