Pathology research identifies potential new target for preventing brain metastasis
Research led by professor of pathology Mikhail Nikiforov, Ph.D., has identified a key mechanism that helps cancer cells spread to the brain, which may lead to a new target for future therapies. The findings were published in the journal Cell Reports in the article "SERINC2-mediated phosphatidylserine remodeling activates protrusion-localized AXL signaling to promote brain metastasis."
Researchers led by Professor Mikhail Nikiforov, Ph.D., have uncovered a potential new target for preventing brain metastasis through a study published in Cell Reports. The research, titled "SERINC2-mediated phosphatidylserine remodeling activates protrusion-localized AXL signaling to promote brain metastasis," identifies a protein called SERINC2 as a critical factor in the spread of cancer cells to the brain.
By promoting the accumulation of phosphatidylserine in specialized cellular extensions, SERINC2 activates AXL, a signaling protein that regulates cancer cell motility and metastatic behavior. In addition to its role in cancer cell invasion, SERINC2 also influences the tumor microenvironment by altering interactions with brain immune cells.
The study found that reducing SERINC2 levels in cancer cells made them less invasive and slowed the growth of brain tumors in animal models. These findings shed new light on the biological mechanisms behind brain metastasis and highlight SERINC2 as a promising therapeutic target for slowing or preventing metastatic disease.
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