Blood Enables the Growth of Cancer Cells

The Science Daily article Protein SENP1 Could Be New Target For Cancer Therapies, singles out a protein researchers believe is implicated in cancer. The protein is known as SENP1 or Sentrin/SUMO-specific protease 1. University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center researchers published results of their study in the Novermber 2nd issue of Cell.

One of the properties of many cancer cells is their rapid growth. To sustain growth, nourishment is needed and that means a dependable blood supply. Researchers believe they may have discovered a strategy by which cancer cells ensure adaquate blood flow. Regulatory mechanisms are connected with maintaining a flow of blood and the inhibition of SENP1 could short circuit the process. The fact that genetically impaired mice, having just a single copy of the SENP1 gene instead of two, were unable to make enough red blood cells, supports the inhibition concept.

Regulatory mechanisms involve a complex of different proteins which interact to enable function. SENP1 appears to regulate a hormone known as erythropoietin (EPO). EPO facilitates the maturation of red blood cells. The regulation of EPO production by SENP1 involves another protein called HIF1a. HIF1a becomes very unstable in the absence of SENP1.

One can trace a causal chain in the interaction of multiple proteins that cause a specific outcome. Inhibit one in the group and function is compromised. If that function is a continuous supply of blood then the consequences of impaired blood flow can signify lack of growth for affected tissue. The bottom line is that cancer cells need blood to grow. Cut off the blood and the growth will stop.