[Novel molecularly targeted peptides interfering the specific signal transduction of cancer metastasis]

Metastatic spread of tumor cells is one of the major risk factors affecting clinical prognosis. There are several sequential steps in this process including cell migration into the surrounding host tissue, infiltration and penetration into vessels for dissemination, attachment to capillary beds of distant organs, cell extravasation and subsequent growth in tissues. Some of the mechanisms involving normal cell migration observed during development are believed to be closely associated with the properties of tumor cell invasion. Thus, the so-called 'cell migration genes' may be frequently utilized by cancer cells to allow for metastatic spread of disease. We have isolated one of the candidate genes homologous to a C. elegans cell migration gene, that overexpressed specially in clinical cancer tissues. Based on in vitro analysis of the signal transduction, a novel peptide interfering the signals provides an attractive target for therapeutic intervention against the cancer invasion and metastasis.