Protein Stops Colon Cancer Cells from Growing in Mice Studies

Canadian researchers at the University of Toronto, the Ontario Cancer Institute, and the Mount Sinai Hospital have discovered a protein that may stop colorectal cancer cells from growing.

The researchers, reporting in the journal Nature, said the epithelial cells that line the bowel walls normally produce the protein labeled "p110." Mice that were genetically altered to study their immune system response did not produce the protein, and they quickly developed aggressive colon cancer, the scientists said.

On the other hand, when the protein was injected into other mice that were genetically altered with human colon cancer cells, the colon cancer tumors stopped growing, they reported. Then the scientists observed human colon cancer tissues, and again adding the "p110" protein "shut down" tumor growth.

The researchers said they intend to continue their study to determine if the discovery of this protein could lead to drug therapy for colorectal cancer patients in the future.

Other Sources: Nature