University of Georgia — MedicalXPress — Thursday 10 June 2021
New research from the University of Georgia has identified a protein called glypican-1 that appears to prevent prostate cancer from spreading to and colonising bone. Prostate cancer that has not spread has a nearly 100% five-year survival rate, but for men whose cancer has spread to the bone that rate plummets to 30%. The study, published in Scientific Reports, focused on cancer-associated fibroblasts — the most abundant type of cell in tumours and responsible for cancer growth and spread.
The researchers found that knocking out the glypican-1 protein could prevent tumour cells from spreading into nearby bone. The protein does not alter the cancer cells themselves; instead it affects neighbouring fibroblasts. “This protein appears to stop the ability of cancer cells to change their environment, which decreases the cancer’s aggressiveness. The fact that this protein is found in the bone, where many aggressive prostate cancer cells reside, further increases the potential impact of this work,” said lead researcher Dr. Brian Cummings of the University of Georgia College of Pharmacy.