Protein clue could stop cancer "creep"

Cancer Research UK scientists have unlocked the secrets of proteins involved in tumor cells creeping away from the original tumor and spreading around the body. Their findings were published in Molecular Cell on December 27, 2007.

The study involves a protein called Tes which appears to block cell growth and prevent tumours from forming. Scientists have now shown that it locks onto Mena - a protein involved in cell crawling that is found in excessive amounts in tumours. This is exciting, says CRUK, because Tes binds to Mena in an unexpected way compared with other proteins that interact with Mena. Crucially, when Tes binds to Mena, it stops cells from crawling as it blocks Mena from sticking to its usual binding partners.

The discovery offers the possibility of the development of drugs which could block the action of Mena by mimicking the action of Tes.