Scientists in Scotland have announced a major breakthrough that could pave the way for new, targeted treatments for some of the most challenging bowel and liver cancers. The discovery centres on a specific protein that fuels tumour growth when genetic signals go awry.
The Glasgow Breakthrough: Targeting a Rogue Protein
A team from the Cancer Research UK Scotland Institute in Glasgow has pinpointed a protein called nucleophosmin (NPM1) as a critical driver in certain cancers. Their research, published in the prestigious journal Nature Genetics, reveals that faults in a well-known cellular communication system—the WNT pathway—cause NPM1 levels to become dangerously elevated in bowel and some liver cancers.
This pathway normally regulates when cells should divide. However, cancer hijacks it, sending continuous 'grow' signals. The scientists found that by inhibiting or removing the NPM1 protein, cancer cells struggle to function. This action allows the body's natural tumour suppressors to reactivate, effectively putting the brakes on cancer growth.
Professor Owen Sansom, director of the Cancer Research UK Scotland Institute and the University of Glasgow, who led the project, explained the significance. "Because NPM1 isn't essential for normal adult tissue health, blocking it could be a safe way to treat certain cancers, like some hard-to-treat bowel and liver cancers," he said.
A Pressing Need for New Treatments
This discovery is particularly vital given the significant impact of these cancers across the UK. Approximately 4,200 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer each year in the UK, with the disease remaining the second leading cause of cancer death in Scotland, claiming around 1,700 lives annually.
Liver cancer is also a major concern, responsible for about 670 deaths each year in Scotland. The incidence of both cancers is notably high in the region. Furthermore, worrying trends show early-onset bowel cancer rates are rising among younger adults in many countries, including Scotland and England.
The research forms a key part of the SpecifiCancer project, launched in 2019 with joint funding from Cancer Research UK and the Mark Foundation for Cancer Research. Its mission is to understand why specific genetic errors cause cancer in particular organs—a crucial step towards developing precise, tissue-tailored therapies.
What Comes Next: From Lab to Patient
The immediate next step for researchers is to develop medical interventions, such as drugs, that can safely inhibit the NPM1 protein. While current treatments can slow tumour progression, a novel therapy targeting NPM1 directly could offer a more effective and safer approach for patients with these specific genetic faults.
Dr David Scott, director of Cancer Grand Challenges, highlighted the importance of such fundamental science. "Scientific breakthroughs like this demonstrate the power of Cancer Grand Challenges to bring together the world's best minds to transform our understanding of how cancer starts and, crucially, how we treat it," he stated.
Although the study focused on bowel and liver cancers, the team is optimistic that the principles uncovered could eventually apply to other cancer types driven by similar mechanisms. This Glasgow-based discovery offers a beacon of hope, pointing towards a future where treatments can be finely tuned to intercept cancer at its very roots.
