Metastasis suppressors are genes or proteins that prevent cancer cells from spreading from the primary tumor to other parts of the body, a process known as metastasis. It is a protein that slows or prevents the spread of metastases (secondary tumors) in the body of a cancer patient. Metastasis is an important step in the progression of cancer and is often responsible for the lethality of many cancers. One of the most dangerous aspects of cancer is metastasis. This process is responsible for roughly 90% of all cancer deaths in humans.
Proteins that slow or prevent metastasis differ from those that suppress tumor growth. Humans and other animals have genes for about a dozen such proteins. Metastasis suppressors work by regulating cellular processes associated with metastasis, such as cell adhesion, migration, invasion, and angiogenesis. These genes or proteins work to keep cancer cells from separating from the primary tumor, entering the bloodstream or lymphatic system, and forming secondary tumors in distant organs.
Several well-known metastasis suppressors have been identified, and researchers continue to explore their mechanisms of action and potential therapeutic applications. Examples of metastasis suppressors include:
- NM23: This gene is involved in the regulation of cell motility and has been found to be downregulated in highly metastatic tumors.
- KAI1/CD82: This gene codes for a cell surface protein that inhibits cancer cell spread by regulating cell adhesion and motility.
- BRMS1 (Breast Cancer Metastasis Suppressor 1): This gene has been linked to the prevention of metastasis in breast cancer.
- KISS1 (KiSS-1 Metastasis Suppressor): This gene’s protein prevents metastasis by suppressing cancer cells’ invasive behavior.
Understanding the mechanisms underlying metastasis suppression is essential for developing targeted therapies for the prevention or treatment of metastatic cancer. The discovery and investigation of metastasis suppressors provides valuable insights into the complex processes involved in cancer progression, as well as potential targets for therapeutic interventions to limit cancer cell spread.
