Scientists Discover Protein That Controls How Skin Cancer Spreads

Scientists studying the worst kind of skin cancer, melanoma, recently discovered a protein that was observed to regulate the spread of cancer cells from the skin to other organs. This discovery opens up possible pathways for treatment by inhibiting said protein.

According to a Manila Bulletin report, scientists studied genetically engineered mice that developed human skin cancers. Their study showed that this protein aided in the spreading or metastasis of cancer from the skin to other parts or other organs.

MIDKINE Protein Released By Melanomas

The scientists call the protein MIDKINE, which was observed to be released by melanomas before cancer cells begin to form and spread to other parts of the skin or even other organs of the infected mice. This leads them to believe that the protein plays a role in metastasis.

They also linked this with other observations among human melanoma sufferers. They noted that those who had high levels of MIDKINE in their lymph nodes usually signified that their cancer would worsen dramatically. Results of the study were published in Nature, a renowned science journal.

Possibilities For Cancer Treatment

This discovery of MIDKINE and how it plays a role in the spread of cancer will be the basis for further studies into developing effective treatments for melanomas. Melanomas, according to the report, are the worst kind of skin cancer and early detection is important in its treatment. Once this cancer metastasizes or spreads, it usually spells fatal results for patients.

The study also changes the way scientists looked at metastasis. Previously, they looked at lymph nodes as the main “transporter” of cancer-causing cells, but this study debunks that. Instead, it looks like this protein is the key to understanding how melanomas spread.

Scientists concluded that what they have found out “might open a door to diagnostic and therapeutic strategies that aim to deal with metastases before they have a chance to arise.”