Scientists discover 'New Mechanism' that drives the spread of Cancer

The new study, a team from McGill University in Montreal, Canada focused on a protein called DENND2B, which appears to play an active role in the normal migration of cells.The team discovered that in many types of cancer, especially epithelial cancers that often metastasize to the brain, Rab13 is unusually highly expressed. Epithelial tissue comprises closely packed layers of cells to form the covering or lining of internal and external body surfaces. Skin is an example of epithelial tissue, as is the lining of body cavities like the chest cavity and the abdominal cavity. Epithelial tissue also lines surfaces in and around organs such as the breast and the lung.
Epithelial cancers, known as carcinomas, arise in cells of epithelial tissue and account for the vast majority of cancers, including breast, prostate, lung, colon, ovarian and bladder cancer. They are distinct from other cancers such as cancers of the blood and lymphatic system (known as leukemias and lymphomas), and cancers that arise in connective tissue (known as sarcomas).
In their study, the researchers found that DENND2B activates Rab13 at the leading edge of the cancer cell, and this appears to be an important point for cell migration. DENND2B interacts with the Rab13 effector MICAL-L2 at the cell periphery, and this interaction is required for the dynamic remodeling of the cell's leading edge. The team believes the study will generate great interest in using Rab13 as a target in cancer therapies, but cautions there is still a long way to go before we start seeing it in clinical trials.