Scientists from the Cancer Center at Queen's University of Virginia (USA) received evidence during preclinical studies that the mda-9 / syntenin gene may be a target in the treatment of bladder cancer, and can also be used to diagnose a disease and monitor it.

The study, published in Clinical Cancer Research, was conducted by Dr. Paul Fisher, who discovered mda-9 / syntenin, and Dr. Santana Dasgupta, an expert in bladder cancer.

Using cell cultures and bladder cancer modeled on mice, the researchers demonstrated that the mda-9 / syntenin gene helps regulate the growth of bladder tumors and is involved in the formation of metastases, according to an online edition for girls and women aged 14 to 35 Pannochka. net They also showed that an increase in the expression of this gene is correlated with the progression of the disease. The latter fact makes mda-9 / syntenin a promising target of cancer therapy and disease monitoring. In addition, suppression of mda-9 / syntenin gene expression leads to a significant slowdown in tumor growth and a reduced risk of metastasis.

Dr. Fischer, a member of the VCU School of Medicine and the VCU Institute for Molecular Medicine, says: "Today there are no biomarkers that could accurately predict the occurrence of bladder cancer, or could be used to monitor the progression of the disease. Our results will help in the development of innovative ways of diagnosis, monitoring and therapy of bladder cancer ".

A team of scientists discovered that mda-9 / syntenin regulates the progression of bladder cancer by affecting the receptors of epidermal growth factor (EGFR). EGFR receptors are located on the surface of the cells of bladder cancer, and play an important role in the proliferation, growth of new blood vessels, cell migration and resistance to apoptosis (programmed cell death).

Scientists have shown that mda-9 / syntenin is responsible for communicating with EGFR and disrupting processes that could keep cancer under control.

Dr. Fischer has already demonstrated excessive expression of the mda-9 / syntenin gene in various types of cancer, as well as its key role in the occurrence of metastases in melanoma. Fisher and Dasgupta plan to continue studying the role of mda-9 / syntenin in the development of bladder cancer. Future research on animal models will help to better understand the mechanisms by which you can stop gene expression and affect the development of the disease.

"Bladder cancer is often diagnosed by an invasive procedure, which involves the insertion of a flexible catheter with a chamber into the urethra.

This stops many patients and makes them hesitate to conduct a diagnostic test, which means that they reduce the chances of successful treatment, "says Dasgupta, a participant in the VCU Molecular Genetics Cancer Program. He hopes that the new study will be a step towards the creation of minimally invasive methods for diagnosing the disease, and will lead to a reduction in mortality.

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