Key Takeaways
- Research identifies TBX3 protein’s role in enhancing the spread of colorectal cancer cells via Wnt signaling.
- Targeting TBX3 may allow for effective cancer treatments without harming healthy stem cells.
- The findings stem from an international collaboration and are published in PNAS, highlighting a significant advance in cancer biology.
Research Highlights Role of TBX3 in Colorectal Cancer
Researchers have uncovered a critical link between the TBX3 protein and the Wnt signaling pathway, integral to both developmental biology and colorectal cancer progression. Claudio Cantù, a professor at Linköping University, led the study which discusses how cancer cells, while misregulated, utilize mechanisms normally reserved for embryonic development.
Wnt signaling is essential during the early stages of development, facilitating rapid cell division as an embryo grows. However, its overactivity is implicated in approximately 80% of colorectal cancer cases, leading to uncontrolled cell division. Traditional treatments aimed at inhibiting Wnt signaling are complicated; they risk damaging crucial stem cells involved in normal cell regeneration.
The study explores TBX3’s function alongside Wnt signaling during tumor development. TBX3 is known for its role in organ and limb formation during embryonic development. Surprisingly, this cooperation is also seen in cancerous cells in the large intestine. The researchers found that TBX3 activates specific genes that increase the likelihood of cancer metastasis, emphasizing the need to better understand these relationships to develop targeted treatments.
The finding is particularly promising as TBX3’s role appears critical to cancer cells, but possibly dispensable for healthy intestinal stem cells. This suggests that inhibiting TBX3 could be a viable therapeutic strategy without severely affecting the body’s normal functions.
The study is an international effort involving researchers from Sweden, Japan, Russia, and Switzerland. The research received support from several organizations, including the Swedish Cancer Society and the Joanna Cocozza Foundation for Children’s Medical Research.
These discoveries could open new avenues for preventing the spread of colorectal cancer while preserving healthy tissue, marking a significant advancement in cancer treatment research.
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