Possible Trigger Found for Head and Neck Cancer Metastasis
Possible Trigger Found for Head and Neck Cancer Metastasis Possible Trigger Found for Head and Neck Cancer Metastasis Head and neck cancers can often go undetected until the tumor has reached Stage III or Stage IV. This may soon
Possible Trigger Found for Head and Neck Cancer Metastasis
Head and neck cancers can often go undetected until the tumor has reached stage III or stage IV. This may soon change, however, thanks to research under way at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Dentistry that seeks to understand the epigenetic events that activate cancer cells in the first place.
Led by Cun-Yu Wang, DDS, PhD, a UCLA professor and oncology researcher, the team believes it has pinpointed an enzyme (KDM4A) that modifies the molecular activation process of a protein (AP-1), which is known to promote metastasis of squamous cell carcinoma. The researchers postulate that targeting the KDM4A enzyme could inhibit the invasive growth of squamous cell tumors.
The study model involved two groups of mice with squamous cell carcinoma: one with low levels of the KDM4A enzyme, and one with high levels of KDM4A. The team found that mice with depleted levels of KDM4A had fewer cancer cells metastasize into the lymph nodes. “I believe this study provides novel insights into the mechanism of oral cancer metastasis, and identifies an important therapeutic target for oral cancer therapy,” Wang tells Dimensions of Dental Hygiene.
The study, sponsored by a grant from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, can be found in the June issue of Science Signaling.
