2023-11-15 16:00:26
The team of Professor Cédric Blanpain (ULB) has just identified the important role played by low levels of collagen in the development of skin cancer.
Mutated cells are not the only ones to decide the development of cancer. Their immediate environment in the body also plays an important role. This is what the study which has just been carried out in the “Stem Cells and Cancer” laboratory of Professor Cédric Blanpain (Université libre de Bruxelles) shows. Results published this week in the scientific journal “Nature”.
The research was led by doctor Nordin Bansaccal. Pediatrician at Saint-Luc (UCLouvain), he completed his doctorate in Professor Blanpain’s lab. His work focused on basal cell carcinoma: the most common skin cancer in humans. The researcher (FNRS/Fria) inserted the gene for this cancer into mice. These would normally develop basal cell carcinoma. However, he noticed that the mutated, “oncogenic” cells did not develop in the same way on the back as on the rodent’s ears. Cells in the ears developed more tumors than those in the animals’ backs.
The importance of the extracellular environment
The analyses, carried out in the dermis of mice, made it possible to identify the reason for these different developments: the local density of collagen. This fibrous protein is widely distributed in our body. “It shapes the structure of many tissues in the body,” explains Professor Blanpain. “When its density decreases, this leads to a modification of the tissues. For example, the appearance of wrinkles on the face as we age.”
“Future studies will be important to identify factors in other tissues that promote or limit tumor formation, possibly leading to new prevention strategies to decrease cancer formation.”
Dr. Bansaccal noticed that in the skin of the rodents’ backs, the high collagen density had simply caused the oncogenic cells to multiply on the surface, and without them inducing tumors. As if the collagen in the dermis had prevented these cells from developing in depth. In the ears, on the other hand, the low levels of collagen did not play this barrier role. The cells proliferated deeply and gave rise to tumors.
“Our study demonstrates that the composition of the extracellular environment regulates regional competence to give rise to cancer,” indicates Professor Blanpain. “Our data are relevant to understanding cancer formation in humans. Future studies will be important to identify factors in other tissues that promote or limit tumor formation, possibly leading to new prevention strategies to reduce the formation of cancer” concludes the director of this study.
1700069357
#Skin #cancer #takes #advantage #collagen #weaknesses
