Skin cancer cells ‘sprout legs’ to move round body, scientists find

The researchers from the Beatson Institute for Cancer Research at Glasgow University found that a protein was causing cells in the body to “sprout legs”, allowing cancer to move from its original location.

It is hoped that the new research, published in the journal Developmental Cell, will help in the development of new drugs to stop cancers spreading.

The researchers, led by Professor Laura Machesky, used mice to study in detail what was happening in skin cancer cases where tumours spread elsewhere in the body, making the disease harder to treat and often deadly.

They discovered that a protein called Rac1 prompts pigment cells in the body to sprout what they described as long legs that could propel skin cancer cells, allowing them to spread.

The team showed that when Rac1 was active in mice it signalled healthy pigment cells, called melanoblasts, to grow legs and “travel” during their early development.

These can form moles and develop into melanomas – the most dangerous form of skin cancer which killed Celtic legend Tommy Burns and affects more than 1,000 people in Scotland each year. Researchers believe that by studying these immature cells it will help them understand how cancer develops and spreads.

Prof Machesky said: “We’ve discovered that a protein called Rac1 triggers the growth of long ‘legs’ which can propel cells during the early stages of skin development. But once cells have matured these ‘shape-shifting’ abilities are lost.

“Our study reveals fresh understanding of how melanoma cells could re-learn forgotten skills, such as being able to change shape, and use these abilities to break away from a tumour and move around the body.”

Dr Lesley Walker, Cancer Research UK’s director of cancer information, said: “Melanoma can be successfully treated if caught early, but can be deadly if it spreads to new areas.

“It’s critical to understand how this happens so we can develop drugs to block this process.”