Researchers at the National Cancer Center have revealed the mechanism of cancer progression in osteosarcoma, a rare incurable cancer, and established a clue in developing a treatment method.

From left, Professors Sung Ji-young, Park Byung-kyu and Kim Yong-yeon

The team, led by Professors Park Byung-kyu, Kim Yong-yeon and Sung Ji-young, discovered that specific proteins promote osteosarcomas. Osteosarcoma, which occurs in the bone, is cancer with a poor prognosis as it is frequently metastatic and resistant to anticancer drugs.

The team found that a protein called interferon consensus sequence-binding protein (ICSBP) promotes the signaling of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) and acquires the characteristics of proliferation and metastasis of osteosarcoma cells.

TGF-β is a typical growth factor involved in various physiological processes in the body, which usually inhibits cancer cell proliferation. When cancer progresses to some extent, however, it starts to promote cancer growth.

The team also confirmed that ICSBP promotes signal transduction by acting as a promoter by binding to a specific position in the type 1 receptor promotor, called TGF-βRI, which is a transforming growth factor. Mouse studies have shown that inhibition of ICSBP expression in osteosarcoma cells results in decreased expression of TGF-βRI and inhibition of osteosarcoma growth.

“The results of this study are expected to provide new clues for an osteosarcoma treatment by revealing the progressive mechanism of osteosarcoma,” Professor Park said.

Biochimica et Biophysica Acta published the results of the study.

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