GROUNDBREAKING RESEARCH Lox enzyme crucial for cancer spread
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Dr. Janine Erler
Hypoxia and Metastasis Team Leader
Identifying factors that influence cancer spread, including the LOX enzyme
Meet Dr. ErlerMore research stories:
Dr. Janine Erler discovered a key enzyme responsible for metastasis, the spread of cancer to new sites. Cancer metastasis is very difficult to treat and is responsible for almost all cancer patient deaths. This exciting discovery could lead to new drugs to prevent cancer spread.
Lead researcher Dr. Janine Erler and her Hypo and Metastasis Team at the Institute of Cancer Research identified the enzyme, lysyl oxidase (LOX). LOX is secreted by tumor cells and prepares new sites in the body for invasion and colonization. If LOX is unable to work, cancer cannot spread.
Dr. Erler explains; "This research identified how to prevent a cancer from establishing itself in a new area of the body. LOX sends out signals to prepare a new area of the body for the cancer to set up camp. Without this preparation process the new environment would be too hostile for the cancer to grow. If we can interrupt the body’s ability to prepare new locations for the cancer to spread to, we can effectively prevent cancer metastasis."
The research was carried out using breast cancer cells, but there is already evidence that LOX is crucial to the spread of other common cancers.
Dr. Erler said; "This is the crucial missing piece in the jigsaw that scientists have been searching for."
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