Revealed - why some cancers spread faster than others

Researchers have revealed how a reduction in mitochondrial DNA content leads human breast cancer cells to take on aggressive, metastatic properties.The research sheds light on how reducing mitochondrial DNA content can lead to human breast cancer cells acquiring metastatic properties. (Metastasis is the secondary cancerous growth formed by the transmission of cancerous cells from a primary growth located elsewhere in the body.)

These findings help understand why some cancers spread faster than others and will offer clinicians a chance to distinguish patients with aggressive forms of diseases. Mitochondria which are deeply involved in cellular metabolism and the process where potentially cancerous cells are killed before they can multiply (apoptosis), help in signalling such cells.

Manti Guha, a senior investigator, Narayan Avadhani and their colleagues from Penn School of Veterinary Medicine set up two systems to reduce the amount of mtDNA in a cell on purpose. This was to understand the mechanism which connects low mtDNA levels with a cellular change which leads to cancer and metastasis.

One system used a chemical to reduce the DNA content while the other one altered the levels of mtDNA genetically. They then compared normal human breast tissue cells which do not form cancer with the cancerous ones using both these systems and contrasted them with cells with unmanipulated mtDNA.

The cells with reduced mtDNA had altered metabolism and their structure was disorganised resembling a metastatic cancer cell.These cells became self-renewing and had characteristics of breast cancer stem cells. Even non-tumour-forming breast cells resembled cancer cells and became invasive.

The study was published in the journal Oncogene.

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