About 90 percent of cancer deaths are due to the spread (metastasis) of the cancer from its original site to distant locations in the body. The movement of cancer cells is assisted by foot-like projects called invadopodia. These cell extensions have destructive enzymes on their surface (MMP), and use them like swords to invade nearby tissues.
Researchers at Queen's University in Canada have identified a protein (CIP4) that seems to block the activity of invadopodia by causing the MMPs to be brought into the cell. The results open up a new potential target to block cancer spread.
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