Protein found that can prevent skin cancer

Scientists have identified a protein that plays a role in controlling the metastasis of skin cancer cells, thereby opening up an effective treatment direction.

Illustration photo: AFP

According to AFP news agency, during research on mouse models that had been genetically modified to develop human skin cancer cells, the research team discovered a protein that plays a key role in either promoting or inhibiting the metastasis of skin cancer cells.

This protein is called MIDKINE. MIDKINE is produced in the human body during melanoma - the most serious type of skin cancer.

This protein then traveled to other parts of the mouse's body to initiate the formation of new malignant tumors (i.e. metastasis).

In subsequent human studies, the team found that in patients with skin cancer, high levels of MIDLINE in their lymph nodes were a predictor of “much more severe” outcomes of the disease.

This prognosis is also true for people with skin cancer even when cancer cells have not yet been detected in their lymph nodes.

“With the MIDKINE protein, we have found a viable strategy that should be considered for drug development,” said Marisol Soengas of the Spanish National Cancer Research Center in Madrid, a co-author of the study published in the scientific journal Nature.

Early diagnosis of melanoma is very important. If the skin cancer cells have started to metastasize, the chance of saving the patient is very low.

In their comments on the research results, also published in the journal Nature, two American experts, Ayuko Hoshino and David Lyden, said the study provided “much-needed insight” into predicting the risk of metastasis in cancer patients.

“The findings could open up opportunities for diagnostic and treatment strategies to stop metastasis before it has a chance to develop,” the researchers said.

According to TTO