Scientists discover new gene responsible for spread of = cancer

Liverpool, UK - 29 March 2006: Scientists = at the=20 University of Liverpool have identified a new gene that causes the = spread=20 of cancer.

Professor Philip Rudland, Dr Guozheng Wang and Dr Roger = Barraclough=20 from the University=E2=80=99s Cancer and Polio Research Fund = Laboratories have=20 discovered an additional member of the S100 family of protein = genes =E2=80=93=20 S100P =E2=80=93 that causes the spread of cancerous cells from an = original tumour=20 to other parts of the body.

If present in the primary tumour, metastagenes such as S100P = trigger=20 the rapid spread of cancerous secondary tumours to other tissues = in the=20 body via the bloodstream =E2=80=93 a process known as metastasis. = Although primary=20 tumours can be removed surgically, secondary tumours are more = difficult to=20 control. This research has been funded by the Cancer and Polio = Research=20 Fund.

The new discovery builds on several years=E2=80=99 work carried = out at the=20 University to investigate the genes that cause cancerous tumours = to travel=20 to other tissues in the body. To date, three other=20 metastasis-inducing genes have been discovered =E2=80=93 S100A4, = osteopontin, and=20 more recently, AGR2.

Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are often the only options = available to=20 treat secondary tumours but these procedures can be problematic to = the=20 patient as they can damage other healthy tissue and do not always = succeed=20 in eradicating the cancer.

S100P is commonly found in ten different types of normal tissue = including the placenta, spleen, colon, ovary, prostate, lung and = heart.=20 Scientists believe proteins like S100P function in healthy tissue = by=20 increasing the movement of white blood cells around the = body. If the=20 protein is found in a cancerous tumour however, it causes the = tumour to=20 spread to other tissues.

Professor Rudland said: =E2=80=9CIt is the spread of cancer = from the initial=20 tumour that is the key contributor to death of a cancer = patient. =20 Metastagenes are fundamental to this process and can be found in = most=20 common cancers, including breast, lung and colon. If these = genes are=20 over-expressed in the cancerous tumour, early death of the patient = is much=20 more likely.

=E2=80=9CThe next major step is to develop drugs that will = switch off the=20 action of these genes. If we can do this, we can stop the = spread of=20 the primary tumour and therefore improve the chances of survival = for=20 patients.

=E2=80=9CWe are grateful for the support given by the Cancer = and Polio Research=20 Fund.=E2=80=9D

The research is published in the current edition of Cancer Research.

Notes to editors

1. The University of Liverpool is one of the UK's leading = research=20 institutions. It attracts collaborative and contract = research=20 commissions from a wide range of national and international = organisations=20 valued at more than =C2=A390 million annually.

2. The Cancer and Polio Research Fund is a charity based = on the=20 Wirral that funds research nationwide into cancer and other = crippling=20 diseases. In the 43 years of its existence, it has spent = more than=20 =C2=A335 million on a wide range of medical research projects and = the provision=20 of equipment and facilities. It is entirely dependent on = charitable=20 donations for its income. For more information please = contact Roger=20 Thornhill on 01948 667 729.

For further information, contact:

Kate Spark
Media Relations Manager
+44 (0) 151 794 2247 =
(out=20 of hours +44 (0) 7970 247391)
mailto:kate.spark@liv.ac.uk

Joanna Robotham
Press Officer
+44 (0) 151 794 2026 =
(out of=20 hours +44 (0) 7970 247396)
mailto:joanna.robotham@liv.ac.u= k

Samantha Martin
Assistant Press Officer
+44 (0) 151 794 = 2248=20
(out of hours +44 (0) 7973 247836)
mailto:samantha.martin@liv.ac.u= k

3DS100P=20

The new gene which causes cancer to spread - S100P

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Dr Wang, Dr Barraclough and Professor Rudland

To view a high resolution version of the above, click on the=20 image