Potential for Metastasis May Be Detected Early

A new study shows the possibility that metatasis is hardwired into normal cells, where doctors can detect whether or not a tumor will spread, long before the patient ever reaches that dangerous phase. The results were reported in the August 3, 2004, issue of the Proceedings of the [U.S.] National Academy of Sciences.

In normal tissues from prostates with metastasizing tumors, researchers at the Pacific Northwest Research Institute (Seattle, WA, USA; www.pnri.org) have found evidence for a DNA structure characteristic of metastasis. The finding poses a challenge to current beliefs about the way cancer develops and spreads. Rare or "rogue” cells may not be breaking away from the tumor and starting new tumors elsewhere, as previously thought. Instead, it appears that the DNA structure for metastasis is actually hardwired into seemingly normal cells that are destined to become metastatic tumor cells.

"Our research is still at an early stage and there is much more to be done,” commented Dr. Donald Malins, of the National Academy of Sciences and lead author of the study. "Early detection is one of the most important tools we have against cancer. To be able to find evidence for a metastasizing tumor even before it reaches that point, well, that would be incredibly valuable--a very powerful new weapon.”




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