Scientists at the Tomsk Research Institute of Oncology have learned from integrins (molecules on the surface of cells) to create a molecular “portrait” of a breast tumor and identify its specific features that can determine the development of metastasis in each case individually. socialbites.ca was informed about this in the project office of the national project “Science and Universities” of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia.
Integrins are responsible for the interaction of cells with the surrounding structures they come into contact with. The shape and mobility of the cell depend on them and they play a role in regulating the cell cycle. Integrins on the surface of cells act as a receptor that interacts with certain molecules (ligands). The combination of such pairs (receptor and ligand) has a great diversity.
Using new methods of spatial transcriptomics (characterizing the activity of all genes in a cell) and bioinformatics data analysis, scientists were able to identify the diversity and uniqueness of the interactions of integrins and their ligands in a breast tumor and, based on this, create the “Portrait of the tumor” as well as the ability of this “portrait” to metastasize. Identifying special features that reflect functional properties, including
“Studying the expression of metastasis-associated integrins made it possible to corroborate the molecular portrait of tumor cells. The obtained data bring us closer to understanding the mechanisms of metastasis. This seems particularly relevant, because nowadays metastases are the main cause of death in cancer patients,” emphasized Vladimir Perelmuter, professor and interdisciplinary said the head of the research team “Mechanisms of Metastasis” in an interview with socialbites.ca.
For example, in a 56-year-old patient with luminal breast cancer (BC), who had an optimal prognosis, tumor cell clusters with integrin alpha6 beta4 were discovered, indicating high metastatic activity of the cells. It may be recommended that this patient be monitored more frequently to monitor the formation of metastases.
The opposite example is a patient who has an unfavorable type of breast cancer but whose tumor lacks integrin, indicating an unfavorable prognosis. Such a patient may be offered milder chemotherapy regimens that will preserve quality of life and prevent side effects.
Previous scientists defined Gene types that affect the risk of developing melanoma.