One of the most challenging cancer mysteries is its ability to metastasize. It is not completely understood the way cancer travels to different organs. The spread makes it difficult to treat it.
A new insight on cancer metastatic abilities was revealed in a study conducted on kidney cancer at Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center Kidney Cancer Program (KCP) at UT Southwestern.
Renal Cell Carcinoma and its metastasis:
Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a kidney cancer that originates in the lining of the proximal convoluted tubule, a part of the very small tubes in the kidney that transport primary urine. RCC is the most common type of kidney cancer in adults. It is responsible for approximately 90–95% of cases. Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) uses blood vessels for its spread. In 15% of patients, a kidney tumour enters the renal vein. Then, it reaches Inferior Vena Cava. From IVC, it enters the heart.
83 patients participated in the research. The study showed that invasion in Renal Cell Carcinoma involves transient activation of a gene program. The gene program enables cancer cells to survive in the blood vessels. Interestingly, this does not always occur in the most aggressive cells in the tumour. This is because less aggressive tumour cells can accomplish this too.
“Even less aggressive clones can invade and travel along the vein.”
Srinivas Malladi, Ph. D.
Lead Author, Assistant Professor of Pathology
This study explains why the spread occurs earlier than anticipated. Moreover, this clears why not all tumours metastasize. Precisely, only some acquire the ability to invade and survive the bloodstream. Only some acquire the ability to grow in other organs.
To conclude, this new information on cancer metastasis will help figure out ways to limit cancer spread. Thus, tumours will be easier to manage.
