“Cancer is a leading cause of death in Australia for several years…almost 12,000 more people die each year from cancer than 30 years ago…and 42,000 people are expected to die from cancer in 2009.” (Cancer Council Australia, 2008)
In this report, the enzyme called LOX (lysyl oxidase) assisting cancer metastasis has been identified by the Institute of Cancer Research scientists. Cancer metastasis is the deadly process of cancer which attributes to 90% of cancer-related deaths. It is really difficult to treat, but this discovery brings the hope back to the scientists to make new drugs against it.
LOX activates the cancer metastasis simply by transmitting signals to a new region of the body for the cancer to set up a camp, but without this process the cancer cells will not be able to survive in the new environment. “It was the first time one key enzyme has been identified as responsible for effectively allowing the cancer to spread.” said Dr. Janine Erler, the lead researcher.
This research gives the scientists a better understanding of cancer, and it is believed that the cancer metastasis can be efficiently prevented by interrupting the preparation of the cancer spread. Now the experiment has been taken a big step forward as Dr. Julie Sharp, the Cancer Research UK’s science information manager, said: “the next stage will be to find out if the LOX protein can be switched off to stop cancer spreading.”
References:
1) http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7813072.stm
2) http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7586444.stm
3) http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6544987.stm
4) http://www.cancer.org.au/aboutcancer/FactsFigures.htm
