A protein "switch" that can cut off the blood supply pathway

A recent British study found that regulating a signaling protein can prevent the formation of new blood vessels around the cancerous tissue of prostate cancer, thereby cutting off the supply pathway of nutrients for cancer and inhibiting tumor growth and cancerous proliferation.

Researchers from the University of Nottingham, Bristol University and other institutions said in a report which was published in the journal Oncogene on the 10th that they had studied vascular endothelial growth factor, which is a signaling protein. It can exist in two forms and play two roles which can both promote the growth of new blood vessels and inhibit their growth.

Through making use of recombinant mouse proteins and recombinant horse proteins, the researchers found that prostate cancer cells will produce such factors which promote the growth of blood vessels. They make new blood vessels to generate new cancerous tissues about around for transporting oxygen and other essential nutrients.

Based on this finding, the researchers developed a compound which can "switch" the "switch" formed by vascular endothelial growth factor so that all the factors exist in the forms of inhibiting blood vessel growth. In animal experiments, the researchers injected the compound to mice with prostate cancer three times a week, and the tumors stopped growing and gradually began to shrink, while the mice didn't show obvious discomfort. This is how recombinant proteins plays their role in the experiment.

The researchers said the next step they will test whether the therapy are valid on a human patient and confirm the therapeutic effect on other types of cancer. If all goes well, a biotechnology company affiliated to the University of Nottingham would set out to develop oral or injectable drugs and take them as a new long-term maintenance treatment for cancer patients to control growth of cancer cells and inhibit its spread to other organs.