Iosune Anasagasti. "We found a protein that helps spread metastasis."
"We found a protein that helps spread metastasis"
You are a researcher at the University of the Basque Country. What is the relationship between the two organizations?
My boss is a doctor. I wanted to socialize our research, but what we do at university is basic research. With the help of another doctor they got funding and founded the institute. Half of the group is in college and the other half in Inbiomed, San Sebastian. The aim is to serve as a bridge between hospitals and universities.
What is the role of the Inbiomed research center?
We are working in two areas: industry and hospitals. However, they are always cancer-related issues, that is, anti-metastatic products. We test with the products that the industry has. For example, how these products work in the mouse. But we also investigate in vitro: cell plantations. We work cancer cells and see how they influence them.
And with hospitals?
In hospitals we have several contacts in Arantzazu and Galdakao. They provide us with blood samples and biopsies. They use cancer-related marker genes to improve patient prognosis.
What is metastasis?
After the formation of primary tumors, this tumor spreads in the body. We investigate which organ it goes, where it stands, etc.
How does skin cancer occur?
In principle it does not have so much influence, but it spreads very quickly in the body. It produces large metastases. The conclusion that the ultraviolet ray has in the cells is that they “forget” the normal cycle and bend elsewhere. That is what causes metastasis. In short, people do not kill skin cancers, but metastasis.
Where would skin cancer be among the most difficult to cure or not?
Skin cancer is seen very quickly by the appearance of certain spots. Then there are no problems to cure. The problem arises when it spreads and it is not clear how it spreads. It extends from blood to everywhere. Our intention is to act in the face of prognosis.
What protein have you found?
Ten years ago we started working with proteins related to inflammation. They are called interleucas. Specifically, the current one is interleukin 18 (IL-18). These proteins work in the waterfall. For example, when we have a fever or infection, the body makes these proteins. So far it was thought that if these proteins act against viruses, they will also act against cancer. And so, five years ago, either there was one of this group (the so-called "interleukin-2") that began to use it in the clinical phase, thinking that it would go against cancer.
Does current research say more?
We have found, more specifically, that the IL-18 protein is harmful and contributes to the spread of metastases. We have seen that there is another protein neutralizing IL-18 protein. It binds to the IL-18 protein. When we put it in the mouse we cut the extension. It is a concrete effect. We, in this sense, have worked on liver cells.
Is this protein produced only in skin fields?
No, it occurs in all cells of the body, especially those of the immune system. It then spreads through the blood. We put the protein in some animals and it goes in the blood. On other occasions we removed the gene from the animal producer of IL-18 and looked at how it influences his life.
What has contributed to this discovery?
First, demonstrating that everything you had imagined so far was the opposite, that is, that protein expands cancer. On the other hand, we must check if what we have found in the mouse is related to humans. In this way it can be neutralized in people and will serve to improve life. We still have to see if the same happens in humans and in other types of cancer the process is the same. Within 5 years you can jump to the clinical phase.
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