Melanoma's Aggressive Spread Through the Body Explained

Metastatic skin cancer is one of the scariest diagnosis patients can have, but new research gives hope that the aggressive spread to organs can be stopped in its earliest stages.

An international team of scientists, led by cancer researcher of the Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry at Tel Aviv University's Sackler School of Medicine Dr. Carmit Levy, published a study on Monday in Nature Cell Biology detailing the process a melanoma goes through when it metastasizes. Understanding the spread of the tumor has allowed the team to research chemicals that can change the disease into a nonthreatening illness.

"The threat of melanoma is not in the initial tumor that appears on the skin, but rather in its metastasis -- in the tumor cells sent off to colonize in vital organs like the brain, lungs, liver and bones," Levy said in a release.

"We have discovered how the cancer spreads to distant organs and found ways to stop the process before the metastatic stage."

Metastasis is the process of a tumor spreading from the original site to other parts of the body, often including organs. The team found in their research that a melanoma tumor puts microRNA into vesicles and sends them out to enact changes in the skin, which then allow cancer cells to be transported and received."

Two chemical substances were found that can prevent early stage tumors from spreading. SB202190 blocks the delivery of the vesicles filled with the microRNA and U0126 keeps the changes allowing the transportation and reception of cancer cells from happening.

The chemicals were tested in the lab and show promise for incorporation into new medications. Earlier diagnosis of skin cancer is now possible through testing for the vesicles and their resulting changes.

This study is important in finding a cure for skin cancer, Levy continued in the release. The team is hoping that the new findings will turn a once deadly cancer into an easily curable disease.