A new technology is expected to be an effective means to prevent cancer metastasis

Cancer metastasis is the leading cause of death for patients with breast cancer. Recently, MIT scientists have invented a new technology that is expected to become an effective means of preventing breast cancer. The research used recombinant human proteins and the results are published in the recent issue of journal Nature Communications. This technology uses microRNA (small non-coding RNA) regulation of gene expression to control cancer metastasis.

Professor Natalie Artzi and the lead investigator of the study in Massachusetts Institute of Technology said that this treatment can be used in combination with chemotherapy for the treatment of early breast cancer. "The hypothesis of this treatment is that if the cancer diagnosis is in early stage, then conducting chemotherapy in the treatment of carcinoma and taking specific microRNAs treatment can effectively prevent cancer metastasis," Artzi said.

The regulation role of microRNAs to gene expression is very important for the prevention of cancer metastasis. Recent studies have shown that gene expression regulation disorder caused by single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) has a significant impact on the level of gene expression, leading to the increase of risk of cancer.

The researchers compared three SNP and assessed the impact of these three SNP on cell motion. The researchers found that one SNP (rs1071738) is related to cancer metastasis. The researchers found that rs1071738 can interfere two binding sites of microRNA (microRNA can regulate gene expression through binding to DNA) - miR-96 and miR-182, thus changing the expression of a protein called Palladin.

Prior studies have shown that Palladin played a key role in the process of metastasis of breast cancer cells and it is also important for cancer cells to invade normal tissues. Thereafter, researchers evaluated Palladin in the laboratory and found that miR-96 and miR-182 can reduce the level of Palladin protein, thus weakening the ability of breast cancer cells invading into normal tissues.

Subsequently, the researchers developed a method to send improved microRNAs into breast lumps. The test results in mice showed that this method can significantly reduce breast cancer metastasis. Flarebio offers recombinant proteins of good quality such as recombinant Cdh10.