Understanding Lung Cancer's Journey: The Protein That Helps It Spread

Have you ever thought about how lung cancer cells move around and invade other parts of the body? It turns out, there's a protein involved in this tricky process. This protein, called integrin α3β1, acts like a helper, making it easier for lung cancer cells to spread. When scientists reduced the amount of this protein in certain lung cancer cells, they noticed that the cells weren't as good at moving and invading. This change was linked to another protein, E-cadherin, which plays a role inside the cells.Integrin α3β1 doesn't work alone though. It needs the help of another protein, p70S6K, to do its job. Interestingly, there's a drug called rapamycin that can block p70S6K, which might slow down the cancer cells' movement. However, blocking integrin α3β1 didn't stop the cancer cells from multiplying. This finding suggests that targeting the entire team of proteins—including integrin α3β1, p70S6K, and p53—could be a new way to treat lung cancer. Isn't it amazing how understanding these tiny proteins can lead to new treatments?