Cancer spread (metastasis) is responsible for about 90% of cancer deaths so knowing which cancers are likely to spread is very important. Researchers in China, Canada and the U.S. have discovered that levels of a single 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. allowed them to make predictions of cancer spread with 90% accuracy. The protein is an enzymeA protein that speeds up the process of chemical reactions in the body without becoming altered in the process. Almost every biological process is driven by the activity of enzymes. Without enzyme catalysts, the complex reactions that build and break down cell parts would not happen at a rate compatible with life. Enzyme names usually describe the reaction that is being catalyzed and all of them end in -ase. called carboxypeptidase E and it normally functions in the modification of hormones like insulinA protein hormone secreted by the pancreas. Insulin controls glucose levels in the body by increasing uptake of glucose into cells of the body. Insulin also stimulates the formation of glycogen and alters fat and protein metabolism.. The researchers found that an unusual form of the enzyme is found at high levels in tumors that are likely to spread. The results may allow for the development of tests to predict metastasis and help guide individualized cancer treatment.
Top