A candidate protein to limit cancer spread
Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide. When detected late, cancer cells spread to different body parts from where it started and form metastases. As these secondary tumours are responsible of 90% of patient deaths, understanding cancer cell migration is essential.
The role of WDR74 in metastasis formation
Scientists from Pr. Vladimir KATANAEV group in collaboration with researchers from the Far Eastern Federal University (Russia), Minjiang University and Fuzhou University (China) highlighted the significance of WDR74 protein in lung cancer and melanoma.
Two recent publications, one devoted to lung cancer and the other to melanoma, demonstrated the crucial role of WDR74 in the progression of the tumours and the formation of metastases. Experiments conducted both in vitro and in vivo showed that an artificial overexpression of this protein enhances the activity of cancer cells. In contrast, a WDR74 deletion stopped metastasis formation and made cancer cells more vulnerable to chemotherapy.
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WDR74 as a putative target in cancer treatment
Together, the two studies reveal the oncogenic role of WDR74 in melanoma and lung cancer. This suggests that WDR74 is a candidate target for the prevention and treatment of cancer.
9 Mar 2020