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 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. (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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