Stop spreading cancer

Hijacking the bacterial ‘communication system’ to tell cancer cells to stop spreading — or even die

October 3, 2014

Cancer cells on the left are pre-molecule treatment. The cells on the right are after the treatment and are dead (credit: S. Kumar)

A molecule used as a bacteria communication system can be hijacked and used to prevent cancer cells from spreading — or even to die on command, University of Missouri researchers have discovered.

“During an infection, bacteria release molecules which allow them to ‘talk’ to each other,” explained Senthil Kumar, an assistant research professor and assistant director of the Comparative Oncology and Epigenetics Laboratory at the MU College of Veterinary Medicine, the lead author of the study.

“Depending on the type of molecule released, the signal will tell other bacteria to multiply, escape the immune system, or even stop spreading. We found that if we introduce the ‘stop spreading’ bacteria molecule to cancer cells, those cells will not only stop spreading; they will begin to die as well.”/.../