Now researchers may have identified a protein that causes normal cells to become cancerous, and turn into cancer stem cells (CSCs) to fight colon cancer.
This discovery could help provide a new target for anti-cancer therapies.
Fighting colon cancer
More than one million people worldwide are diagnosed with colon cancer each year; more than half a million die from it.
If diagnosed early enough the standard treatment involves surgery, chemotherapy, radiation or targeted drug therapy to destroy the tumors. In many cases this may work. But in some cases, while this approach helps put people in remission, eventually the cancer returns, spreads throughout the body, and ultimately proves fatal.
Cancer stem cells
Cancer stem cells are devilishly tricky. While most cancer cells are killed by chemotherapy or other therapies, cancer stem cells are able to lie dormant and hide, then emerge later to grow and spread, causing the person to relapse and the cancer to return.
In a study published in Scientific Reports, (Nature Research), scientists at LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine and the Stanley S. Scott Cancer Center identified a protein called SATB2 that appears to act as an on/off switch for certain genes in cancer cells.
In healthy colorectal tissue, SATB2 is inactive. In colorectal cancer, however, it is highly active and present in about 85 percent of tumors. To study its effects, the researchers inserted extra copies of the SATB2 gene into normal colorectal tissue in mice, increasing SATB2 protein levels. This triggered major cellular changes and uncontrolled growth—essentially converting normal cells into cancer stem cells.
More on SATB2
The authors note:
“These data suggest that SATB2 can transform normal colon epithelial cells to CSCs/progenitor-like cells. The CSC cells play significant roles in cancer initiation, promotion and metastasis.”
When the team inhibited SATB2 in colorectal cancer cells, they found that it suppressed tumor growth. It also spread and prevented the cells from becoming cancer stem cells.
In a news release , senior author Dr. Rakesh Srivastava highlighted the importance of the findings:
“SATB2 protein is highly expressed in the colorectal cell lines it can be an attractive target for therapy, diagnosis and prognosis.”
Because SATB2 is also present in other cancers, the implications may extend beyond colorectal cancer.
Next, the researchers plan to repeat the study in mice that more closely mimic how colon cancer develops in humans. They hope this will confirm their results and deepen understanding of SATB2’s role in cancer formation and spread.
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Are there any clinical trials for this treatment? My nephew has lymph and colon cancer – liver included. He has had surgery and 6 chemo treatments for lymph cancer. No lymph shows up on PET scans, but 3 lesions on liver. He has had a cancerous tumor removed from his colon. Doctors want to treat colon cancer with 6 chemo treatments – then followup with possible surgery on liver.
Hi William, CIRM is funding a clinical trial sponsored by a company called Forty Seven Inc that is treating patients with colon cancer. You can learn more about the trial on our website or by contacting the company. https://www.cirm.ca.gov/clinical-trial/phase-1b2-trial-anti-cd47-antibody-hu5f9-g4-combination-cetuximab-patients-solid