Scots team leading battle against killer skin cancer
SCOTTISH scientists are hailing a breakthrough in the war on skin cancer.
They have discovered how malignant melanoma cells spread around the body.
It could pave the way for better survival rates by slowing or halting the disease’s spread.
They found a fatty molecule lays down a “breadcrumb trail” that allows melanoma to migrate through the bloodstream from organ to organ.
Our exciting findings show skin cancer cells create their own ‘green light’ signal to start spreading, and are lured to travel around the body by a trail of the fatty molecules
Signals from the molecule, lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), help to make melanoma cells unusually aggressive and mobile.
Tests on laboratory cell lines and mice revealed tumour cells start their journey by breaking down a nearby source of LPA. Each encounter with LPA prompts the cells to move on, spreading anywhere within a few weeks.
Lead scientist Professor Robert Insall, from the Beatson Institute at Glasgow University, said: “Our exciting findings show skin cancer cells create their own ‘green light’ signal to start spreading, and are lured to travel around the body by a trail of the fatty molecules.
“The next step will be to find how the melanoma cells break down the LPA molecules to see if this sparks ideas for new ways to stop the cancer from spreading. At the moment our research is still in early stages but we hope this could help doctors to make sure this cancer doesn’t spread.”
Cases of malignant melanoma in Scotland have leapt more than 50 per cent in 10 years. Two in 10 sufferers do not survive.
More than 1,200 cases are diagnosed and 11,000 Scots develop the less serious non-melanoma skin cancers every year.
The most common sign is a new mole or a change in an existing one which can also be itchy or bleed and can spread to other parts of the body. Doctors and health campaigners believe the rise is fuelled by sunbeds and cheap package holidays. Those most at risk are people with pale skin, moles or freckles, a history of sunburn or a family history of the disease.
Professor Nic Jones, chief scientist at Cancer Research UK, which funded Prof Insall’s team, said: “Research like this is crucial to find effective ways to limit the spread of tumours and increase the chances for more successful treatment of this horrible disease.
“We can reduce the risk by keeping safe in the sun.”
The research is published in the online journal Public Library of Science Biology.
