Researchers from the Institute Francis Crick and the University of Copenhagen have found a new way to "wall" cancer cells before they manage to spread through the body and give rise to secondary tumors.

About the discovery, which is able to reverse the treatment of cancer, reports the magazine EMBO Reports.

When developing a foreign cancerous tumor, our fibroblast cells try to strengthen the surrounding tissues to prevent the hostile malignant cells from breaking through and spreading throughout the body.

Unfortunately, this natural protection is unreliable.

However, scientists were able to reprogram the fibroblasts using an experimental drug substance. As a result, modified cells create a tight "fence" around the primary tumor, which reliably blocks further progress of the tumor to other organs and tissues. The effectiveness of the unique technology was demonstrated by the example of fibroblasts surrounding malignant tumors of the lungs and liver in mice.

The co-author of the study, Dr. Erik Sahai of the Francis Crick Institute, says: "This can be an entirely new way of protecting surrounding tissues from aggressive malignant tumors. We managed to fence malignant cells and keep them from further spreading through the animal organism ".

His colleague Dr. Janine Erler of the University of Copenhagen is more cautious in her comments: "It is too early to talk about the results, but this is really a promising achievement. If further research proves the practical benefits of our technology for patients, this will solve the most difficult problem in oncology - to stop the spread of cancer ".

Scientists explain that in all solid tumors fibroblasts are present, which can be modified and turned into a highly effective barrier to cancer. The technology that they used was previously used for the experimental treatment of inflammatory diseases, but it was also useful in oncology.

Dr.

Nell Barrie, a representative of Cancer Research UK, said: "The majority of cancer deaths are due to the fact that malignant cells reach distant parts of the body and give them secondary tumors. And we know perfectly well that not only cancer cells themselves take part in this complex process, but also many cells of the human body that could be influenced. I hope that this discovery will significantly improve the treatment of cancer and will finally help to defeat this deadly disease ".

medbe. en.