"Key Mechanism behind Cancer Spread is Explained"

Metastasis, which is the spread of cancer cells from one part of the body to another, is one of the leading causes of death from cancer and also one of the biggest challenges in the way of curing cancer. The more a cancer is metastasized, the more complicated and severe treatment for that cancer gets. Scientists at the Institute of Cancer Research have now discovered one of the leading causes of this metastasism.

Their research shows that competition between two proteins, "Rac" and "Rho", is directly responsible for cancer cells changing shape and spreading throughout the body. The hypothesis is based upon the fact that cancer cells come in different shapes, which have the ability to survive in different parts of the body. The proteins associated with the "Rac" activity cause the cell to become elongated, while the "Rho" activity causes the cell to take on a more round shape. Each activity attempts to surpress the other, giving the cancer cells more elasticity and a greater chance of survival in different places throughout the body. Previously, it was known that the cancer spread through cell shape transformation, but the cause of this transformation was still unknown. These results came from a study done on melanoma cancer cells, which are the cause of the most serious type of skin cancer. Knowing the cause of metastasis will help scientists develop therapies for preventing the spread of cancer in the future.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/10/081030194338.htm