‘Spontaneous’ liver cancer causing molecular mechanism discovered

Washington : Boffins have discovered a new molecular mechanism that ‘spontaneously’ causes liver cancer.

The molecule, which is part of the TGF-ß tumour suppressor pathway, disappears in the cells of nearly 90 percent of human hepatocellular cancers, the most common type of liver cancer.

The study was conducted by a team of researchers led by Lopa Mishra, at the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center at Georgetown University.

As part of the study, researchers reintroduced embryonic liver fodrin, or ELF gene to the cancer cells, in human cell cultures and in vivo models to check the effect on the development of liver cancer.

The study found that loss of only one copy of ELF gene, resulted in spontaneous development of liver cancer.

The researchers also found that by reintroducing ELF to the cancer cells, the proteins driving cell division and growth were kept in check which implied that ELF or another inhibitor of downstream cell division and growth proteins could be developed into an effective new therapy.

“We’re looking for ways of treating untreatable cancers. Pancreatic and liver cancers are the third- and fourth-leading causes of cancer death in the world,” Mishra said.

The findings suggested that the role of ELF in the development of liver cancer might also help to find a method for preventing the disease. Because the cancer forms as a multistep process, beginning with cirrhosis and following a known progression, it’s possible that the same ELF molecule can be targeted to pre-cancerous lesions in the liver.

The findings of the study were published online by Oncogene. (ANI)