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Harnessing epithelial homeostatic mechanisms to fight cancer

Jamie L Lahvic1, Iswar K Hariharan1

  • 1Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720-3200.

Molecular Biology of the Cell
|June 28, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Targeting cancer cells directly often fails due to tumor heterogeneity. Harnessing normal cells to eliminate precancerous neighbors offers a promising new strategy for cancer treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Cell Biology
  • Developmental Biology

Background:

  • Traditional cancer treatments primarily target cancer cells, often leading to long-term failure, particularly in solid tumors.
  • Tumor genetic heterogeneity and instability accelerate the development of treatment-resistant variants.
  • Emerging therapies like immunotherapies and anti-angiogenic treatments show success by targeting tumor-adjacent cells, suggesting broader therapeutic avenues.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore novel therapeutic strategies for cancer by investigating mechanisms that enable normal cells to eliminate precancerous neighbors.
  • To assess the potential of leveraging conserved cellular mechanisms for early cancer intervention.

Main Methods:

  • Review of studies in *Drosophila* and mammals detailing cellular responses to genetic differences within epithelia.
  • Analysis of conserved mechanisms involved in cell elimination based on genetic disparity.

Main Results:

  • *Drosophila* studies reveal mechanisms where epithelial cells eliminate neighboring cells with genetic differences.
  • These elimination mechanisms are conserved in mammals, indicating potential applicability in human cancer prevention.
  • Normal epithelial cells can be induced to eliminate precancerous neighbors.

Conclusions:

  • Targeting wild-type cells to eliminate precancerous neighbors represents a promising, underexplored area for cancer treatment and prevention.
  • Harnessing innate cellular defense mechanisms offers a potential strategy to arrest tumor progression before cancer fully develops.
  • Further research into these conserved mechanisms could lead to innovative therapeutic approaches for early-stage cancers.

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