Standard cancer treatments can promote metastasis through the
release of DNA- and protein-bearing particles from dying tumor
cells, new study shows
MUMBAI, India, March 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Cancer spreads
from its primary tumor to other parts of the body via blood or the
lymphatic system in a process termed 'metastasis'. This usually
represents an advanced stage in the disease's progression and tends
to be fatal. Therefore, preventing metastasis remains a major goal
in oncology.
In a step towards these efforts, Prof. Indraneel Mittra from the Advanced Centre for
Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC), India, has shed light on what causes
metastasis.
Prof. Mittra's group focuses on cell-free chromatin particles
(cfChPs)—small structures composed of DNA fragments and specialized
proteins called histones—that are released when cells die. They
have found that these particles, when released by dying cancer
cells and reabsorbed by distant healthy cells, could be fundamental
in the formation of new tumors.
Their findings, published in PLOS One result from
experiments in mice grafted with human breast cancer cells
(xenografts) to induce cancer. The researchers treated the primary
tumors in these mice with chemotherapy, localized radiotherapy, or
surgery and then searched for the presence of human DNA and human
proteins in the mice's brains. "Using fluorescence microscopy
techniques, we detected multiple co-localized signals of human DNA
and eight human onco-proteins in mouse brain cells. Notably, the
number of signals increased dramatically following either of the
three types of treatment," remarks Prof. Mittra.
The researchers then tested whether blocking the effects of the
cfChPs would change the results. As expected, the concentration of
human DNA and oncoproteins in the mice's brain cells dropped
significantly in mice that were treated with a cfChP-deactivating
agent.
This study has important implications in reshaping cancer
biology and treatment. Prof. Mittra concludes,"Future long-term
experiments should explore whether cfChP-deactivating agents given
concurrently with anti-cancer treatments could help prevent
metastatic spread. When used as adjuncts to cancer treatment, these
agents would have the added advantage of preventing some of the
toxic side effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy."
Reference
Title: Therapeutic interventions on human breast cancer xenografts
promote systemic dissemination of oncogenes
Journal: PLOS One
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0298042
Media contact:
Dr. Indraneel Mittra
Advance Centre for Treatment Research & Education in Cancer,
Tata Memorial Centre (ACTREC)
Phone: +91 (022) 2740 5000/ 6873 5000 Extn-5136
Email: indraneel.mittra@gmail.com
Website:
http://www.actrec.gov.in/pi-webpages/DrIndraneelMittra/
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