Researchers set new bases to develop therapies against colorectal cancer

Researchers from the Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL) and the Catalan Institute of Oncology (ProCURE program) have published the bases for new therapies against colorectal cancer in Clinical Cancer Research.

“We have found that if we inactivate two proteins, called TAK1 and TGFBR1, which are involved in cellular signaling in normal tissue surrounding tumors, tumoral cells are more sensitive to chemotherapy and their metastatic capacity is reduced,” says Dr. David G. Molleví.

In a developed tumor, there are different cell types. On the one hand, there are the cancerous cells, and on the other hand, there are “normal” cells, which are generically called stroma. Amongst these cells, the most common type are the fibroblasts, which comprise a supporting scaffold. Fibroblasts supply molecules and factors that nourish the tumor and make it “invisible” to chemotherapy treatments.

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