Balancing Two Proteins in Skin Cancer

An article is found online in Science Daily entitled 'Signal Protein Shows Promise For Blocking Tumor Promoters In Skin Cells.' It refers to two proteins involved in signaling pathways which control cellular differentiation and growth. The relationship between the two proteins offers potential new treatment for skin cancer.

According to the article a protein named Srcasm has a functional relationship to another protein known as Src. Their numerical relationship appears to be an inversely related one. High quantities of Src seem to be accompanied by low levels of Srcasm. When levels of Srcasm are elevated the amount of Src decreases. Src kinases are a family of enzymes that can promote tumor formation. In most skin cancers and other carcinomas, like colon and breast cancer, levels of Src are found to be elevated while levels of Srcasm are low. Research indicates that Srcasm can reduce levels of Src kinases in cells.

A contemplated strategy to treat skin cancer entails utilizing an adenovirus as a carrier of a gene, that when introduced into skin cells, can code for the protein Srcasm. The next research step involves an attempt to determine if Srcasm can reverse skin tumor formation.