New biomarker found for aggressive cancers

CINCINNATI, Oct. 28 (UPI) -- U.S. researchers say they have determined a form of the protein that causes blood clotting might also become a new biomarker for aggressive cancers.

University of Cincinnati researchers, members of an international team of scientists, said the recently discovered protein -- called "Tissue Factor" -- might play a key role in the molecular mechanisms leading to the growth of certain metastatic cancers. The protein is present in various tissues, but it's most prominent in vascular structures such as blood vessels. Previous studies showed alternatively spliced Tissue Factor contributes to cancer growth, but the molecular events leading to that were unknown.

In a preclinical study, Vladimir Bogdanov of the University of Cincinnati and Henri Versteeg of Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands, described in detail how the protein contributes to cancerous cell growth.

The scientists said their study is the first to report the specific mechanisms of action that lead to increased angiogenesis when alternatively spliced Tissue Factor is present.

"This is an important breakthrough in cancer research because we are able to draw a more complete molecular picture of how Tissue Factor contributes to cancer growth," Bogdanov said. "This will help translate basic research into real-life for therapies targeted to stop angiogenesis."

The study appears in the early online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.