Cancer cells use their “feet,” structures known as invadopodia, to spread throughout the body. Scientists have found a way to block the formation of these feet-like structures by blocking the Abl family of proteinOne of the four basic types of biomolecule. Proteins are polymers made up of strings of amino acids. Proteins serve many functions in organisms including transport of molecules, structure, cell adhesion and as signaling molecules such as hormones. Many transcription factors, including p53 and Rb are proteins. kinases. Suppressing these kinases also inhibited the protein that cancer cells use to “chew” through and thus escape the material around them. Without their escape mechanism and invadopodia, cancer cells are not able to spread effectively. In this study, the drug used to block the Abl kinases was imatinib (Gleevec®), which is already FDA-approved to treat leukemiaA cancer affecting the cells that develop into white or red blood cells. Both of these cell types originate from stem cells in bone marrow. Red blood cells function to carry oxygen to our tissues and the white cells (leukocytes) are part of our immune system. The cancerous cells often accumulate in the blood.. However, this study suggests a broader use of imatinib to treat other cancers. The use of this drug in combination with a therapy that directly kills cancer cells may improve the success of current treatments.
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