Cell messengers convey clues to cancer metastasis

A new study from the University of Warwick shows that a protein involved in cell movement provides clues to how certain types of cancer metastasize and develop into secondary tumors

Scientists at Warwick Medical School have demonstrated for the first time that the levels of this protein can increase or decrease the movement of cells (including cancer cells), suggesting that they may play a role in the spread of tumors

This research was published today (July 21) in the "Journal of Cell Biology" and was funded by the Medical Research Council, a part of British research and innovation

Researchers are studying a tiny cellular component called intracellular nanovesicles (INV), which act as a messenger inside the cell, transporting goods to places where they are needed

INVs contain a protein called oncoprotein D54.

To study the role of TPD54 in cell movement, the Warwick team used a live cell microscope to observe cells migrating on a surface wrapped in fibronectin (an extracellular matrix)

They also performed the same experiment with ovarian cancer cells in a 3D mesh rich in fibronectin, which can more accurately reflect the behavior of cells in the tumor

Professor Stephen Royle, lead author of Warwick Medical School at the University of Warwick, said: "In some cases, you don't want cells to move around, such as in cancer

The name of the tumor protein D54 comes from the fact that it is overexpressed in cancer, but we don't know much about it at the molecular level

Although tumor protein D54 is called tumor protein D54, it is involved in many normal processes of cells, as well as immune response, wound healing and other functions

Professor Royle added: "This protein is actually a healthy protein

"But in the field of cancer, we suddenly have many messengers selling large amounts of integrins, so we get more cell movement, which is not good

The Warwick research team discovered previously overlooked INVs in 2019

Professor Royle added: "They are hidden where the naked eye can see-you can go back to the photomicrographs of the 1950s and see that they are there, but we don't have the tools to find them

"The bigger question for us is how these vesicles behave and what they carry

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'Intracellular nanovesicles mediate a5b1 integrin trafficking during cell migration' will be published in the Journal of Cell Biology , DOI: 10.