Clinical study aims to validate a preventive treatment against tumor metastasis -
Metastasis, the strategy adopted by the tumor cells to turn into an aggressive form of cancer, are often associated with poor prognosis. Management to block the metastasis or better yet, prevent their formation would be a giant step towards the fight against cancer. The Catholic Universit- researchers in Leuven (Belgium) this world first successfully performed on human tumor models in mice. The results of their study are published online July 24 in the prestigious journal Cell Reports .
The work of the team of Professor Pierre Sonveaux at the Institute Catholique de Louvain Universit- of Experimental and Clinical Research (IREC), managed to spot a family of pharmaceutical compounds whose action prevents the onset of tumor metastases. The researchers performed this feat by studying mitochondria in tumor cells. These organelles are considered the powerhouse of cells. But when operation is altered, the UCL researchers observed in tumor cells, the mitochondria can promote the migration of cells, thus leading to the formation of metastases.
Paolo E. Porporato, postdoctoral researcher, and other young researchers in the team of Professor Pierre Sonveaux, examined the molecular mechanism responsible for the ability of mitochondria to promote metastasis. They managed to demonstrate that, under certain conditions, mitochondria produce more free radical called superoxide ions (O2.-). It is this overproduction of superoxide that results in the formation of metastases and, therefore, the growth of a tumor.
implicated in other human diseases such as Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease, superoxide production by mitochondria can be blocked by antioxidants such as very specific MitoTEMPO. Used in models of murine and human tumors, these compounds have proven to be very effective in blocking the migration of tumor cells and prevent spontaneous formation of human tumor metastases in mice! The discovery of a treatment that blocks the head of metastasis formation mechanism and the existence of a family of promising compounds, is an encouragement for future evaluation in a clinical study to validate a preventive treatment against metastasis tumor.
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