Altered KRAS Gene Forces Normal Cells to Spread Cancer

Cancer cells use an altered gene to persuade healthy cells to release unique growth signals, which cancer cells do not secrete but can use to multiply

Ever thought how cancer cells communicate with the healthy ones? A new study has found how cancer cells force neighbouring healthy tissue into helping with the disease's growth.

The findings showed that cancer cells use an altered gene to persuade healthy cells to release unique growth signals, which cancer cells can use to multiply but cannot secrete them.

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‘KRAS is altered in more than 90 percent of pancreatic cancer, and in nearly 20 percent of all cancers.’

Also, the faulty versions of the KRAS gene - often altered in cancer - can have an important effect on healthy tissues.

Normal KRAS makes occasional signals that asks a cell to divide, but when altered the gene becomes hyperactive and helps drive cancer cells' rapid and uncontrolled growth.

"What our research underlines is that cancer cells do not drive the growth and spread of tumours alone - they can bully their healthy neighbours into helping them," said one of the researchers Chris Tape from The Institute of Cancer Research, in London.

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Further, the altered KRAS gene also plays an important role in turning healthy 'stromal cells' -- connective tissue cells of any organ -- into cancer's allies.

In addition, the researchers discovered that healthy cells were responding with a totally new message - a message that doubled the capacity for KRAS to drive malignant behaviour in the cancer cells.

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They also recognised well-known pathways that KRAS uses to communicate with neighbouring healthy cells.

"We have discovered exactly how cancer cells can persuade stromal tissue to secrete key growth signals, and in doing so opened up exciting new possibilities for treatment," Tape added.

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The study, published in the journal Cell Scientists, showed for the first time that there is a communication loop with a cancer-causing gene controlling cancer via healthy stromal cells and opens up avenues for new approaches to cancer treatment.

"We have identified a key role played by the most commonly mutated gene in cancer in communicating with healthy cells. Blocking its effects could be an effective cancer treatment," explained lead author Claus Jorgensen researcher at the University of Manchester.

Source-IANS