Exciting discovery could 'stop cancer from killing people'

Metastasis is the ability of cancer cells to spread from a primary site, to form tumours at distant sites. It is a complex process in which cell motility and invasion play a fundamental role. Essential to our understanding of how metastasis develops is identification of the molecules, and characterisation of the mechanisms that regulate cell motility. Hitherto, these mechanisms have been poorly understood.

Now, a team of researchers lead by Professor Marco Falasca at Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry has shown not only that the enzyme phospholipase Cγ1 (PLCγ1) plays a crucial role in metastasis formation, but that down regulation of PLCγ1 expression is able to revert metastasis progression.

The team investigated the role of PLCγ1 in cell invasion and metastasis using different approaches to modulate its expression in highly invasive cancer cell lines. Their results showed that PLCγ1 is required for breast cancer cell invasion and activation of the protein Rac1. They revealed a functional link between PLCγ1 and Rac1 that provides insight into processes regulating cell invasion.

Professor Falasca explained: "Consistent with these data we detected an increase in PLC1 expression in metastases compared to primary tumours in breast cancer patients. Therefore PLCγ1 is critical for metastasis formation, and development and inhibition of this enzyme has a therapeutic potential in the treatment of metastasis dissemination."

"This is an exciting discovery. He has shown that turning off this molecule prevents metastasis. The simple fact is that if you stop metastasis, you stop cancer from killing people. We now need to focus on developing drugs that can block PLCγ1."

'Phospholipase Cã1 is Required for Metastasis Development and Progression' is published in Cancer Research on Monday 15 December 2009.

Source: Queen Mary, University of London

   

• gwargh - Dec 15, 2008
  • Rank: 3.3 / 5 (4)
  Very cool.
  On the other hand, if applied to a developing fetus, wold this also stop rapid divisions of cells? Just curious.
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• STAGGERBOT - Dec 15, 2008
  • Rank: 5 / 5 (3)
  for people searching from here
  "PLCy1" = "Phospholipase C-{gamma}1"
  ...the fonts aren't always that great
  it is a gamma symbol in the story not a "y"
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• gmurphy - Dec 15, 2008
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  wow, I hope this works. Its heartening to see so many threads produced by hard work and science being woven into real world solutions.
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• zevkirsh - Dec 15, 2008
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  the beginning of humans living to unheard of healthy old age, 140 and beyond begins with reversing telomeric degenerationg, turning our body into a self-renewing albeit cancerous state, and then using our technology to slow down the many cancers we will get and eventually developing a whole recipe book of drugs and therapies that eliminate all cancerous growth.
  
  this is eternal health, and it begins with having more cancer, and learning how to slow it down and eliminate it, or make it benign.
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• NOM - Dec 15, 2008
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  So far Farbstein, telomolecular is the only company that has ever taken you seriously. It is hardly surprising that they are fraudulent, since you are nothing but a lying conman.
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• NeilFarbstein - Dec 15, 2008
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  The ex President of Telomolecuar was recently fined $100,000 for lying to investors that he had a cure for cancer that worked by reversing telomeric degeneration. That might be the case but he was lying through his teeth that they already had that capability. Telomolecular is reorganizing under the name RCP, since they are now in bankruptcy. I was one of the complaintants who started the ball rolling for the investigation
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• NOM - Dec 15, 2008
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  Ah, that would be why all of your bogus research claims all state:

  vulvox is currently investigating [insert false research claim here]...

  
  Is that to stop you getting fined under the same clause. Since your "company" has noone in it but you, and you never do any actual research.
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• axemaster - Dec 16, 2008
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  Yeah... Farbstein has been making these claims for a VERY long time now, and needless to say most of his other comments are similarly idiotic.
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• E_L_Earnhardt - Dec 16, 2008
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  Just remove the ENERGY from the mitosing cell and it will not mitose, neither will it metas!
  Cyroablation kills! Moderating the process should
  SLOW! HOW MANY MORE MUST DIE?
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• NeilFarbstein - Dec 29, 2008
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  The SEC has fined Matt Sarad and Jeremy Jobe $100,000
  a piece after their investigation of telomolecular. They have not accused me of anything during that investigation. Incidentally, the Nassau Police want to talk to you NOM, E L Earnhardt and Axmaster.
  They are investigating the fraud you are perpertrating in the chatrooms and forums. Are you working for a rival company?
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• NOM - Jan 04, 2009
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  Farbstein, you are a paranoid nutter. Take your medication, stop spamming.
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