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Australian researchers discover way to stop spread of deadly bowel cancer

Xinhua, June 25, 2015 Adjust font size:

A team of Australian and international researchers have discovered a promising breakthrough in the treatment of one of the world's most deadly cancer cells.

Led by the University of Melbourne, the scientists have found a way to control the stem cell behavior responsible for the spread of bowel cancer cells.

Most fatalities that occur from bowel cancer are caused by secondary cancers that spread after the initial discovery, but the research team has found a way to target dormant cells and stop them from spreading.

Bowel cancer is the second most common cancer in Australia and in 2012. There were 1.4 million new cases and 694,000 deaths from it worldwide.

Lead Researcher Professor Elizabeth Vincan from the Cancer Biology Laboratory at the University of Melbourne identified a cell surface receptor called Frizzled 7 which causes the cancer cells to spread.

The findings were published in the Stem Cell Reports journal, indicating that early detection of the cancer and quick action could bring with it a better chance of beating it.

A stem cell in the gut known as "Lgr5" plays a key role in initiating cancer growth. This cell needs proteins to regenerate the gut lining after it is damaged.

These proteins control cell function by binding to a cell surface receptor known as 'Frizzled'.

Previous research proved there are 10 of these Frizzled receptors but the one involved in the Lgr5 stem cells was unknown until now.

Vincan said identifying the right Frizzled receptor was like " searching for a piece of the puzzle".

"We found that Frizzled 7 was the one we were looking for," she said.

"If you knock out Frizzled 7 while the cells are in a dormant state they aren't able to make the tumor grow. The aim now is to try to get to those cells while they are dormant before they start growing."

"It represents a shift in the targeted management of cancers."

She said the next step was to identify a way to isolate the Frizzled 7 receptor and create a targeted treatment to stop it from encouraging the cancer from growing and spreading.

"The next step is how to target Frizzled 7 and develop anti- Frizzled 7 antibody treatments that can be used in combination with other current therapies. We are collaborating with international scientists who are trialing imminent antibody treatments."

The news coincides with the end of Bowel Cancer Awareness Month which runs globally in June. Endi