‘Off switch’ identified to cut spread of bowel cancer’
Dr Aideen Ryan from NUI Galway found that switching off a specific protein in bowel cancer cells can stimulate an anti-tumour immune response.
The research that opens new avenues for the development of novel treatment approaches was funded by the Irish Cancer Society.
Bowel cancer is a significant health concern in Ireland with 2,400 new cases diagnosed and almost 1,000 deaths from the disease every year.
Up to now, therapeutic developments to stop its spread to other parts of the body have had very little success.
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Dr Ryan found the activity of a key protein known as NF-kappaB, with the help of a type of immune cell, called tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs), promotes the spread of cancer cells from the bowel to the abdominal cavity.
TAMs are present within or close to tumour tissue and can act in tumour-promoting or a tumour-killing manner, depending on their surrounding environment.
Dr Ryan and colleagues in NUI Galway found TAMs can be switched from being tumour-promoting to being tumour-killing by turning off the NF-kappaB protein in bowel cancer cells, thereby causing a significant reduction in bowel cancer spread to the abdominal cavity.
Dr Ryan said the findings had, for the first time, uncovered the effect of targeting the NF-kappaB protein in bowel cancer cells.
“We are continuing this important research in order to develop a new treatment approach for bowel cancer which could potentially result in better treatments for patients with this disease,” she said.
Another development in bowel cancer research also supported by the society is a simple and inexpensive blood test that can be used as an early detection tool
Dr Ryan has received the European Association for Cancer Research Young Investigator Award for her research which was published in Oncogenel — one of the world’s leading cancer journals.
April is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month and the society is encouraging everyone to be aware and act on the early signsand symptoms.
Joan Kelly, nursing services manager at the Irish Cancer Society said “Bowel cancer is a cancer that affects both men and women but there still remains a high embarrassment factor that people feel when discussing the signs and symptoms.
“The fact that it is the most visited section of our website bears this out. Some people feel awkward mentioning symptoms to family, friends and even their GP so they look elsewhere for their information and support.”
Meanwhile, the Irish Cancer Society has said its national cancer helpline received 30,531 calls last year.
The helpline (Freefone 1800 200 700) is answered by specialist nurses who can also respond online to anyone concerned about cancer.
As well as supporting patients looking for information, they can also help family members deal with a cancer diagnosis as well as thebereaved.
The society’s national campaigns officer, Kate O’Reilly, has appealed to women to join team Irish Cancer Society in the VHI mini marathon in Dublin in June.
www.cancer.ie
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