Scientists in Scotland have made a significant breakthrough that could pave the way for new treatments targeting aggressive bowel and liver cancers. The discovery centres on a specific protein that becomes hijacked by these tumours, offering a promising new avenue for therapy.
The Glasgow Discovery: Hijacking a Cellular Pathway
Researchers at the Cancer Research UK Scotland Institute in Glasgow have pinpointed a key mechanism that drives the growth of these cancers. Their work, published in the prestigious journal Nature Genetics, focuses on genetic errors that corrupt the WNT pathway. This is a crucial internal signalling system that normally helps regulate healthy cell growth within the body.
When faulty, this pathway can become a powerful engine for tumour development. The team found that due to these genetic faults, levels of a protein called nucleophosmin (NPM1) become highly elevated in bowel cancer and certain types of liver cancer.
Stopping Tumour Growth by Targeting NPM1
The critical finding is that blocking the NPM1 protein appears to severely hinder cancer cells. Crucially, NPM1 is not essential for healthy adult tissues, making it an ideal target for treatment with potentially fewer side-effects.
When researchers blocked NPM1, they disrupted the cancer cells' ability to produce the proteins they need to survive and multiply. This action effectively activated a natural tumour suppressor mechanism in the cells, putting a brake on their uncontrolled growth.
A Hopeful Step for Hard-to-Treat Cancers
This research offers a novel and hopeful strategy for treating cancers that are often challenging to manage. Early detection of liver cancer, in particular, is known to significantly improve survival chances, underscoring the need for better treatment options at all stages.
The breakthrough is especially relevant for Scotland, which experiences some of the highest rates of bowel and liver cancer in the UK. The work provides a foundation for developing future drugs that could specifically target the NPM1 protein in tumours, moving from laboratory research towards potential new therapies for patients.
