In order for cancer cells to survive, they hijack processes that naturally occur within the body. Because there are so many things needed for cells to survive, researchers are continuously discovering new ways to combat cancer progression. Researchers at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have reported that suppressing the 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. EZH2 inhibits cancer cell invasion. EZH2 is an enzyme often found at high levels in aggressive solid tumors, and this overabundance has previously been linked with tumor spread (metastasis). In order to suppress the activity of EZH2, researchers modified the enzyme by adding a small chemical group called a phosphate. The modification inhibited the enzyme. Importantly, this type of modification occurs naturally in cells. In this case, the body naturally phosphorylates EZH2, during the formation of bone cells (osteoblasts). Mofidication of the pathway may be a viable target to prevent cance spread.
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