Cancer cells that can stay in place... or set out to conquer the body: this difference is crucial and completely changes a patient's prognosis.
A study from the University of Geneva, published in the journal
Cell Reports, sheds new light on this phenomenon. It shows that a cancer's ability to spread depends as much on the collective as on the individual cells themselves.
Cancer becomes particularly dangerous when it forms metastases, meaning when cells leave the original tumor to colonize other organs. Yet, not all cancers behave this way. Some remain localized, which greatly increases the chances of a cure.
To understand what makes the difference, researchers studied cells from colon tumors. They isolated several "clones," meaning groups of identical cells, and then observed their behavior in the laboratory and in animals. The goal was to see which ones were capable of migrating and forming metastases.
At the same time, they analyzed gene activity in these cells. Genes can be more or less active, and this activity directly influences cell behavior, including their ability to move.
The results show that certain genetic signatures are linked to greater mobility. In other words, some cells are programmed to become more invasive. But the most surprising aspect lies elsewhere.
Some cells develop shapes and behaviors that promote their movement and invasion of other tissues.
Credit: Ariel Ruiz i Altaba, UNIGE Researchers discovered that this potential does not depend solely on an isolated cell. It also relies on interactions between multiple cells. In groups, cancer cells seem to organize and cooperate, which facilitates their migration.
Based on these observations, the team developed a tool based on artificial intelligence, called MangroveGS. This program analyzes numerous genetic signatures to estimate the risk of a cancer spreading. Tested on patient data, this tool succeeded in predicting metastases and relapses with an accuracy close to 80%. It thus surpasses current methods, which are often less reliable in the face of the diversity of cancers.
Concretely, this advance could change patient management. From a simple tumor sample, doctors could assess the risk of spread. This would allow treatments to be adapted, avoiding heavy therapies for some, or strengthening surveillance for others.
The identified genetic signatures would not be limited to colon cancer. They could also apply to other cancers, such as those of the lung, breast, or stomach, which further broadens the interest of this work.