How tumor cells create their own pathways

July 10, 2012 in Cancer

How tumor cells create their own pathways

Enlarge

The picture shows a tumor cell that migrates through the wall of a blood vessel into the neighboring tissue. Credit: Marco Prinz/Universitaet Freiburg

Metastasis occurs when tumor cells "migrate" to other organs through the bloodstream. Scientists have now discovered the trick tumor cells use to invade tissue from the blood vessels: They produce signaling proteins to make the arterial walls permeable - thus clearing their pathway to a different organ. The latest findings are published in the current issue of the journal Cancer Cell.

How does a tumor cell set up a in order to metastasize? Scientists at Technische Universität München's (TUM) Klinikum rechts der Isar and Helmholtz Zentrum München have made a significant discovery in this area by studying colon cancer. They have learned that the tumor cells release certain proteins known as chemokines. In the case of metastatic colon , the chemokine concerned is CCL2. The CCL2 chemokine docks on to the cells of the inner blood vessel walls (endothelial cells) and activates the corresponding receptor (CCR2 receptor). This connection makes the endothelial cells permeable – creating a clear path for the tumor cells.

How metastasizing cancer cells enter organs
Enlarge

This is an electron microscopy from a tumor cell that is on the way to extravasate through an alveolar endothelium blood capillaries - the tumor cell is depicted in blue green, the endothelial cell in purple red. The protrusion of the tumor cell are seen that form their way through the endothelial cell. Credit: UZH

Professor Mathias Heikenwälder of TUM's Institute of Virology explains that the tumor cells use a clever trick to migrate: "The outwit the endothelial cells by emitting a signal used by healthy cells." To date, research has mainly focused on macrophage cells attracted by the chemokines of the tumors. "By understanding the role of chemokine receptors in relation to endothelial cells we have potentially uncovered a brand new approach to cancer treatment," says Heikenwälder.

"Measuring the number of chemokines could allow us to draw clear conclusions on the likely spread of a primary tumor to other organs and predict the risk of metastasis in patients," continues Heikenwälder. "Furthermore, the option of blocking the chemokine receptor CCR2 at the endothelial cells gives healthcare professionals a new way of preventing metastases both before and following an operation."

How metastasizing cancer cells enter organs
Enlarge

Tumor cells (green) adhere on the endothelium (red) that gets activated and permeable through CCL2-CCR2 signaling. Tumor cell extravasation is facilitated by recruited monocytic cells (blue). Technique: Adaptation of confocal image stacks creating an artificial surface. Credit: UZH

For their research, the scientists used colon cancer tissue and colon cancer cell lines from mice and humans. The next steps will involve studying the findings in greater detail and examining how the new concept can be transferred to other types of cancer.

More information: Monika Wolf et al., 2012. Endothelial CCR2 signaling induced by colon carcinoma cells enables extravasation via the JAK2-Stat5 and p38MAPK pathway, Cancer Cell, July 2012.

Journal reference: Cancer Cell search and more info website

Provided by Technical University Munich search and more info website

not rated yet  

Rank not rated yet
Related Stories
Relevant PhysicsForums posts

More news stories

Team finds mechanism linking key inflammatory marker to cancer

In a new study described in the journal Oncogene, researchers reveal how a key player in cell growth, immunity and the inflammatory response can be transformed into a primary contributor to tumor growth.

Cancer created 55 minutes ago | popularity not rated yet | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Study of young Israelis emphasizes need for avoidance of sun exposure for the very young

A new study conducted using extensive medical records of over one million Israeli adolescents before military service shows clearly how exposure to the Israeli sun of young, light-skinned children increases substantially ...

Cancer created 2 hours ago | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Genetic diversity within tumors predicts outcome in head and neck cancer

A new measure of the heterogeneity – the variety of genetic mutations – of cells within a tumor appears to predict treatment outcomes of patients with the most common type of head and neck cancer. In the May 20 issue ...

Cancer created 6 hours ago | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Molecular marker from pancreatic 'juices' helps identify pancreatic cancer

Researchers at Mayo Clinic have developed a promising method to distinguish between pancreatic cancer and chronic pancreatitis—two disorders that are difficult to tell apart. A molecular marker obtained from pancreatic ...

Cancer created 7 hours ago | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

New smartphone application improves colonoscopy preparation

The use of a smartphone application significantly improves patients' preparation for a colonoscopy, according to new research presented today at Digestive Disease Week (DDW). The preparation process, which begins days in ...

Cancer created May 19, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0


Neurons that can multitask greatly enhance the brain's computational power, study finds

Over the past few decades, neuroscientists have made much progress in mapping the brain by deciphering the functions of individual neurons that perform very specific tasks, such as recognizing the location ...

New study identifies risk factors for depression among COPD patients

Patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) typically suffer from depression more frequently than those without COPD, resulting in higher levels of disability and illness and increasing the overall ...

Half time warm-ups boost athletic performance

High-intensity, short duration warm up activities at half time intervals boost athletic performance, a study of soccer players has found.

Youth bullying because of perceived sexual orientation widespread and damaging

(Medical Xpress)—Bullying because of perceived sexual orientation is prevalent among school-aged youths, according to a study led by Donald Patrick, professor of health services at the UW School of Public ...

Inflammatory bowel disease raises risk of melanoma

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are at higher risk of melanoma, a form of skin cancer, report researchers at Mayo Clinic. Researchers found that IBD is associated with a 37 percent greater risk for the disease. ...

Pharmaceutical advances offer new options for health outcomes

Research presented at Digestive Disease Week (DDW) explores pharmaceutical advances for treating irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea (IBS-D) and hepatitis C.