New discovery protein linked to breast cancer growth

Washington: A sticky protien found on the outside of cells may be the reason behind the growth of bad cancer.

A new study found that the protein called fibronectin promotes the activity of estrogen in bad cancer cells. The study "Fibronectin saves the estrogen receptor has lysosomal degradation in bad cancer cells," was conducted by Rocío Sampayo.

Together, they show a novel mechanism of estrogen receptor signaling that is regulated by fibronectin. It has been found that exposure to fibronectin prolongs the activity of estrogen receptors in bad cancer cells.

The estrogen hormone plays a key role in the development of healthy cells and, in many cases, cancer cells. Estrogen attaches to cellular estrogen receptors, which promote cell growth and survival. But too much activity of estrogen receptors can cause rapid proliferation of cells, leading to tumor growth. About 75% of bad cancers are considered positive for estrogen because estrogen causes the spread of these cancers.

When cancer cells begin to invade surrounding tissues, they encounter the sticky fibronectin protein. "In the normal mammary gland, epithelial cells are not in contact with fibronectin," said Sampayo.

Fibronectin is part of the extracellular matrix, the network of proteins and molecules that surround cells. In tumors, the production of this surrounding network often becomes unregulated. Previous research has shown that high levels of fibronectin and its β1-integrin receptor correlate with the survival of lower bad cancer, but we do not know why.

In this study, Sampayo and his fellow researchers discovered that fibronectin stimulates the activity of estrogen receptors in bad cancer cells. They discovered that when bad cancer cells are surrounded by fibronectin, estrogen receptors prevent destruction by lysosomes – garbage disposal units – and can continue to stimulate the growth of cancer cells

. endocrine drugs that target the receptor, "he added. Research suggests that therapies that interfere with the influence of fibronectin on the estrogen receptor may help treat drug-resistant bad cancers.

The work also sheds light on how the network of proteins surrounding tumors can influence cancer progression. in the Journal of Cell Biology.