In collaboration with cancer scientists, UBC stem cell researchers found that a protein called podocalyxin – which the researchers had previously shown to be a predictor of metastatic breast cancer – changes the shape and adhesive quality of tumour cells, affecting their ability to grow and metastasize. Metastatic cancer is invasive cancer that spreads from the original site to other sites in the body.
The discovery demonstrated that the protein not only predicted the spread of breast cancer cells, it likely helped to cause it. The findings were recently published online by the Public Library of Science.
“We believe we’ve found a new important culprit in metastatic breast cancer, which opens up an entirely new avenue of cancer research,” said Calvin Roskelley, an associate professor of cellular and physiological science who specializes in breast cancer and is co-senior principal investigator.
“The culprit is hiding in plain sight on the surface of tumor cells, so we are now developing ‘smart’ molecules to block its function. The ultimate goal is to generate new targeted, non-toxic treatments – very different from the standard ‘slash and burn’ chemotherapy.”
The researchers found that podocalyxin significantly expands the non-adhesive face of cells, allowing individual cells to brush aside adhesion molecules situated between tumor cells. The “freed” cells then move away from the original site to form new tumors at other sites. Also, the protein causes tumor cells to sprout microvilli, or hair-like projections, that may help propel cancer cells to other sites.
In addition, when the protein expands the non-adhesive face of cells it drags along with it a second protein called NHERF-1 – a protein shown by others to be implicated in cell growth and invasion. The researchers now believe the mechanism applies to difficult-to-treat invasive breast and ovarian cancers.
Next steps involve advancing the research in animal models, designing antibodies to block the function of the protein and working with the UBC-based Centre for Drug R&D to identify new therapies to combat metastasizing cancer.
The researchers said information from this discovery may speed development of new therapies to within 10 years.