Tuesday, August 9, 2016

Research shows biglycan molecule plays a key role in determining the malignancy of the tumor

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Research shows biglycan molecule plays a key role in determining the malignancy of the tumor -

Researchers from Hokkaido University in Japan have shown that a molecule called biglycan, plays an intrinsic role in attracting the tumor cells to the inner wall of the blood vessels of the tumor.
Biglycan is a normal constituent of cells outside of the support matrix and appears to modulate the biological activity of a number of growth factors. It is also released by immune cells into inflamed tissues.
The team has investigated graft-low metastatic (LM) and high metastatic (HM) melanoma tumor cells in mouse skin.
They found the "endothelial" cells forming the inner lining of blood vessels in tumors secrete HM levels of biglycan, which binds to specific receptors on tumor cells, to attract the increased endothelium. When the neutralized Biglycan receptors with antibodies, the migration of tumor cells to endothelium was inhibited.
They asked why the biglycan expression was increased in endothelial cells, and found that the gene's promoter region was de-methylated, meaning that the gene was turned on. They think that the tumor cells have created a micro-environment that could induce the expression of abnormal gene in the neighboring tissue.
The team analyzed a large database that contains gene expression data in cancer patients. They found that high biglycan expression was associated with poor prognosis in patients with breast, lung and colorectal cancer. Further on a specific case of metastatic cancer showed high levels of biglycan investigation in the blood of patients with metastatic cancer, when he was barely detected in another non-metastatic cases.
The research provides clear evidence that biglycan is important role in determining the malignancy of the tumor. endothelial cells of blood vessels act as "gatekeepers" the researchers write in their study published in the journal Scientific Reports . In highly metastatic tumors, these cells give the molecule of tumor cells "key", biglycan, which allows them to break the door and proceed into the blood stream, resulting in metastasis.
"These comments and unravel some outstanding issues can contribute to the establishment of an accurate diagnosis or potent antimetastatic strategies that target the communication between tumor cells and endothelial cells, "the researchers conclude.


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