Researchers Identify Mechanism of Cancer Invasion

A research team led by Penn State has uncovered insights into the initiation of cancer cell invasion, shedding light on a potential therapeutic target and providing prognostic markers for treatment selection. The team published their findings in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

According to Professor Pak Kin Wong, the cells in a cancerous tumor do not randomly detach and disseminate everywhere. Instead, they exhibit coordination and collaboration, often led by a specific leader cell. To study the role of leader cells, the researchers designed a nanobiosensor to track long noncoding RNA (lncRNA), which regulates gene expression in a cell.

The nanobiosensor allowed the researchers to monitor the distribution of lncRNA in cancer cells during collective invasion. They discovered that the gene MALAT1, known for its association with metastasis in various cancers, was highly present in leader cells. Importantly, reducing the expression of MALAT1 prevented the formation of leader cells and halted cancer cell invasion.

The team plans to further investigate the mechanisms of MALAT1 in leader cells to develop prognostic tools for clinicians. By identifying aggressive diseases and predicting their behavior, these tools could help guide treatment strategies for bladder and other cancers. Ultimately, the study aims to contribute to the development of novel progn

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Materials provided by Penn State. Original written by Ashley WennersHerron. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Journal Reference:

Ninghao Zhu, Mona Ahmed, Yanlin Li, Joseph C. Liao, Pak Kin Wong. Long noncoding RNA MALAT1 is dynamically regulated in leader cells during collective cancer invasion. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2023; 120 (27) DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2305410120