Protein that boosts survival in colon cancer patients identified

Scientists have identified a protein that boosts survival rates in colon cancer patients and could be targeted to treat the deadly disease.

Researchers at Boston University in the US found colon cancer patients with high levels of the protien c-Cbl lived longer than those with low c-Cbl.

Even though scientists have studied this protein in other cancers, it has not been explored in colon cancer until now.

The researchers examined the level of c-Cbl in tumors that were removed from people with colon cancer. Based on the level of this protein, c-Cbl, patients were split into two groups, high c-Cbl and low c-Cbl.

The researchers then wanted to find out what happens to cells when this protein was turned off. They did this by using two types of colon cancer cells split into three groups each.

One group consisted of un-manipulated colon cancer cells, one group had increased expression of normal c-Cbl and the other group had increased expression of the "off" version of c-Cbl.

This off version of c-Cbl lacked an essential function of c-Cbl called ubiquitin ligase activity. Cells that were given the "off" version of c-Cbl grew more tumors than those that were given the "on" version.

For tumours to grow and metastasise they need blood vessels.

The next step was to look at how c-Cbl affected blood vessel growth by using three experimental models - one group was normal, one group was given the c-Cbl protein and the third group was given the "off" version of the protein.

The model that was given the "off" version of c-Cbl grew more blood vessels.

"This helps us to understand the role of the ubiquitin ligase activity of c-Cbl in preventing tumours from growing and reducing tumour's ability to grow blood vessels," said Vipul Chitalia, an associate professor at Boston University.

The study suggests that c-Cbl might improve the survival of patients with colon cancer.

"This information will help cancer researchers understand colon cancer better and possibly design new treatments to better cure colon cancer and help patients live longer," Chitalia said.