British researchers believe that finding drugs that can inhibit the rogue gene could be available within a decade and form the basis of new generation of "one-size-fits-all" treatments.
Everyone is born with the gene WWP2 though scientists are still unsure as to its exact purpose in the body.
But they have discovered that it is present in high quantities at the time when tumours become malignant and start spreading around the body.
It is thought to attack and break down a natural inhibitor in the body which normally prevents tumours spreading or metastasising.
By switching it off it is hoped to render it harmless and the original tumour can be safely removed using surgery or radiotherapy.
Dr Andrew Chantry, who reported in the journal Oncogene, said his finding could inspire a new generation of drugs within the next decade that will stop the aggressive spread of most cancers including those of the breast, brain, colon and skin.
"We all have the gene but when it is faulty it hijacks this process and helps cancer to develop and spread to other parts of the body," he said.
"This is what eventually kills cancer patients. If a tumour stayed in the same place it would just be a simple case of removing it with surgery every time.
"If we can restrict this gene before it has started working then it will provide a window of opportunity tot stop the cancer from spreading," he said.
"We have already started experimenting with a molecule that we think can do the job and if that is the case we will have the basis of a new generation of 'one-size-fits-all' drugs for a range of cancers."
Dr Chantry, a biological scientist at the University of East Anglia, and colleagues found by blocking WWP2 levels of the natural inhibitor are boosted and the cancer cells remain dormant.
"We are very excited and are already on the way to developing a new drug. We are now planning further experiments and then need to verify our findings in animal models and eventually clinical trials," he said.
"But if all goes well we believe that cancer patients could be being treated by drugs that prevent the spread of their tumours in five to 10 years."
The research was funded by UK-based charity the Association of International Cancer Research (AICR), with additional support from the Big C Charity and the British Skin Foundation.
Dr Mark Matfield, scientific coordinator of AICR, said: "This is a very exciting new discovery and a perfect example of the way that basic research into cancer can open up ways to develop new ways to treat cancer."
The initial discovery was made while researchers were studying a group of natural cancer cell inhibitors called "Smads".
Dr Surinder Soond, who spearheaded the experimental work in the laboratory, said: "This is a very novel and exciting approach to treating cancer and the spread of tumours which holds great potential."
Cancer Research UK welcomed the study but warned a lot more work needs to be done before its viability can be proven.
The charity's science information manager Dr Kat Arney said: "Over recent decades researchers all over the world have discovered genes that drive the growth and spread of cancer, and this research adds one more to this ever-growing list.
"But, while these new results aid our understanding of the complexities of cancer and could point towards potential leads for future anti-cancer drugs, the work is still at the laboratory stage."
【英国《每日电讯报》网站1月24日报道】题:无赖基因令癌症得以扩散到全身(记者理查德·阿莱恩)
研究人员发现,某个问题基因是癌症在人体内扩散的关键,这一突破可能为人类打开阻止癌症扩散的“机会之窗”。
英国研究人员相信,人类可能在10年之内开发出可抑制这种无赖基因的药物,在此基础之上推出新一代“万能”疗法。
所有人生来都有WWP2基因,不过科学家仍不确定它在人体内的具体作用。但他们发现,当肿瘤变成恶性、开始在全身扩散时,人体内会有大量的WWP2基因。
据信,该基因会攻击和消灭人体内的一种通常会阻止癌细胞扩散或转移的天然抑制剂。
研究人员希望,将这种基因“关闭”后让它不再有害,随后通过手术或放射疗法将原发肿瘤安全移除。
在《致癌基因》杂志上发表这一研究成果的安德鲁·钱特里博士说,他的研究可能启发人们在未来10年里研制出新一代药物,阻止包括乳腺癌、脑癌、结肠癌和皮肤癌在内的大多数癌症扩散。
他说:“我们都有这种基因,但当它出问题时,它会帮助癌细胞扩散到身体其他部位。癌症患者最终就是因此丧生。如果在它开始工作之前我们能予以限制,将为我们打开阻止癌症扩散的机会之窗。已开始对一种我们认为能够胜任的分子进行实验,这有可能成为治疗一系列癌症的新一代万能药的基础。”
钱特里博士是东英吉利大学的生物学家,他和同事发现,通过抑制WWP2基因,人体内抑制癌细胞扩散的天然物质的水平将会上升,使癌细胞保持不活跃的状态。
