Here are four points:
1. Researchers have been studying the gene, Sprouty2, in cancer cell models, mouse models and human biopsy samples.
2. Sprouty2 is known to block molecular circuits to prevent cancer cells from growing and spreading to other parts of the body.
3. However, in colorectal cancer, Sprouty2 may increase the metastatic ability of cancer cells instead of suppress it.
4. “This finding is a very significant step in our understanding of metastasis in colorectal cancer, but it’s important to note that we believe this phenomenon may occur in only a subset of colorectal cancer patients,” said Sharad Khare, PhD, associate professor of research in the MU School of Medicine’s Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and lead author of the study.
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