Switch biologists to identify a genetic modification, the tumors to other parts of the body helps

MIT cancer biologists found a genetic change, makes the lungs more likely to spread to other parts of the body tumors. The findings in the April 6 online edition of nature, published offers new insights into lung cancers metastasize and could help, drug metastasierten tumors to engage targets, identify which accounts for 90% of cancer deaths.

The researchers, led by Tyler jacks, Director of the David H. Koch Institute for integrative cancer research at MIT, the change took while studying a mouse model of lung cancer. It then compared their mouse data on genetic profiles of human Lung Tumors and found the same gene, NKX2-1, reduces the activity is higher death rates for lung cancer associated with patients.

This study is an important step to understand how changes that disable this gene more aggressive tumors that would make Monte Winslow, senior postdoctoral jacks says lab to link and lead author of a document.

Scientists to track drugs, which could prevent its loss can understanding the role of NKX2-1. Right now, "the sad reality is that if a patient tell you whether this gene has rejected cancer, you would know that they will have a worse result, but it would change not the treatment," says Winslow.

Winslow and his colleagues at the Institute of Koch studied mice that develop lung tumors are genetically programmed. Mice lung cells can induce an activated form of cancer-causing gene KRAs expressions are, and the gene Tumorentstörer p53 is deleted. While all these mice develop lung tumors, metastasizes only a subset of these tumors, suggesting that additional changes are required for the cancer to spread.

The researchers analyzed the genome of metastatic and non-metastatic tumors in the hope on finding some genetic differences, which would explain the discrepancy. The most striking difference was the lack of NKX2-1 activity in the patients with metastatic tumors, Winslow says.

The NKX2-1 gene encodes a transcription factor a protein that controls the expression of other genes. Its normal function is controlled development of the lungs, as well as thyroid and some parts of the brain. If the expression of the gene reject cancer cells, they appear again to an immature State and gain the ability of the lung to separate and to spread through the body, sowing new tumors.

After the researchers NKX2-1 began metastasis gene identified, as important, it is about the effects of the gene that regulates it. She zeroed on a gene called HMGA2, which previously had brought in other types of cancer in context. It seems that suppresses NKX2-1 HMGA2 in adult tissues. If NKX2-1 in cancer cells is disabled, HMGA2 active again and helps the tumour to more aggressively.

She also found that human tumors with NKX2-1 is missing and HMGA on metastatic, rather even though not all metastasierten tumors fit this profile.

It would be difficult to target the NKX2-1 with a drug because it very much more difficult for drugs the a gene develop, as turn back on, it shut down, Winslow said. A promising way aimed at HMGA2 or other genes, the NKX2-1 suppressed.

Lab now looking jacks on other types of cancer, to determine whether NKX2-1 or HMGA2 have the same role in other metastatic cancer. "It's great to find, the Lung Cancer Metastasis important, something but it would be even better if it controlled metastasis in still a subset of other types of cancer," says Winslow.

Source: Massachusetts Institute of technology (MIT)