Researchers from Basel are developing a new approach against metastasis formation

Basel researchers have deciphered the mechanism behind aggressive cancer metastasis. According to the scientists, the finding has the potential to prevent the spread of metastases. That would improve the prognosis of breast cancer patients.

According to the study in the journal “Embo Journal,” the aggressive form of breast cancer “triple negative” spreads so successfully to other organs because the cells produce their own collagen, the University of Basel announced Tuesday.

Collagen fills the spaces between body cells and holds them together. But it also helps cancer cells survive and adapt in new tissue. Previous studies have shown that migrating cancer cells first have to find their way to the new tissue. Because the environment there, ie signaling substances, nutrition and oxygen supply, is different from the site of the original tumour.

The ability to produce their own collagen makes it easier for metastatic cancer cells to implant in other organs. It makes them more independent of the new tissue’s collagen.

The reason for its own collagen production is a metabolic enzyme called nicotinamide-N-methyltransferase, abbreviated NNMT, the researchers from the university and the University Hospital Basel discovered. According to the study, particularly aggressive metastatic breast cancer cells produce excessive amounts of it. That’s what the researchers want to start with. Inhibitors should stop the NNMT and thus prevent the self-production of collagen.

The scientists have already achieved success with this in experiments on mice. When they removed the NNMT from aggressive breast cancer cells and injected these cells into mice, the animals hardly developed any metastases.

“In a next step, we want to test whether existing inhibitors against NNMT also inhibit metastasis in the mouse model and whether side effects occur,” explains study leader Mohamed Bentires-Alj in the announcement. After further development of the drugs targeting NNMT, the first studies in humans could follow soon. (saw/sda)