Cancer cells eat each other to survive, new study finds

Cancer cells wreak havoc in the body, but it turns out that they also have a pretty frightening way of surviving. Cancer cells are eaten to heal when damaged, new study finds.

This process is called macropinocytosis and involves cancer cells pulling the intact cell membrane over the damaged area and sealing the hole. The damaged part of the cell membrane is then split into small spheres and transported to the “stomach” of the cells (lysosomes). Once, these damaged parts are broken down and essentially digested by the lysosomes.

“Our research provides very basic knowledge about how cancer cells survive. In our experiments, we have also shown that cancer cells die if the process is inhibited, indicating that macropinocytosis is a target for future treatment. It’s a long-term perspective, but it’s interesting, “Group leader Jesper Nylandsted of the Danish Cancer Society Research Center and the University of Copenhagen, who led the news, said in a statement. research and who for many years studied how cancer cells repair their membranes.

To study macropinocytosis, the researchers used a laser to damage the membrane of cancer cells. They further found that if macropinocytosis was inhibited with substances that block the formation of small membrane spheres, cancer cells died.

Macropinocytosis is particularly useful for aggressive cancer cells in part because the cancer cell has the ability to reuse the damaged membrane when it is degraded in lysosomes. Aggressive cancer cells divide frequently, requiring large amounts of energy and material for new cells, and macropinocytosis allows them to feed on the energy they need to continue to live.

“We continue to work and study how cancer cells protect their membranes. Related to macropinocytosis, in particular, it’s also interesting to see what happens after the membrane closes. We think the first patch is a bit harsh and that one more Complete repair of the membrane is needed afterwards. This can be another weak point of cancer cells, and is something we want to take a closer look at, “said postdoctoral fellow Stine Lauritzen Sdocnder.

The study is published in the journal Scientists progress.