Protection against metastases

Scientists have found a substance that prevents cancer metastases

Svetlana Maslova, Hi-tech+

Metastases are the main cause of cancer death, so early diagnosis and surgical treatment are crucial for a cure. Scientists have discovered a substance that, in combination with chemotherapy, prevents the spread of metastases from a focal tumor. A promising method is already being studied in clinical trials on patients with colorectal cancer.

A group of researchers from Rockefeller University was looking for ways to block the metastasis process and discovered a molecule that "blocks" the nutrition of cancer cells.

Article by Kurth et al. Therapeutic targeting of SLC6A8 creatine transporter suppresses colon cancer progression and modulates human creatine levels is published in the journal Science Advances – VM.

"We have discovered a pathway that promotes metastasis of colorectal cancer and a drug that suppresses it," commented study author Sohail Tavazoy.

The work was preceded by the discovery of 2016, when scientists investigated the behavior of cancer cells under the condition of lack of oxygen. It turned out that with hypoxia, cancer cells began to produce a special enzyme, with the help of which the conversion of the creatine metabolite and phosphocreatin was started. The latter is stored in the muscles and is necessary for cancer cells to survive and grow.

Some time later, scientists traced the pathway for the intake of phosphocreatine and began working on ways to block it. This is how they identified the RGX-202 molecule.

Experiments on mouse models have shown that RGX-202 slows down the growth of colorectal cancer tumors, and also prevents metastasis to the liver.

In addition, the substance retained its properties when used with standard chemotherapeutic drugs.

The pilot phase of clinical trials has shown that people with advanced colorectal cancer have a similar positive effect in response to RGX-202. Next year, the team plans to conduct a second phase of research involving volunteers with an even more severe prognosis of the disease.

The ultimate goal of therapy is to prevent relapse, the researchers stressed.

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