5 Apr :Researchers claim to have identified a protein that can help in shutting down blood vessel growth.A major discovery could pave the way for a new drug that may inhibit tumour growth in cancer patients.
A team at Wake Forest University School of Medicine has found that a protein called ferritin binds to and cripples the ability of another blood protein, called HKa, to shut down blood vessel growth.
The finding led them to the hypothesis that if they could somehow prevent the binding of ferritin and HKa.This will allow HKa to prevent the growth of new blood vessel, in turn, blocking the growth of tumours.
The discovery also has possible implications for wound care. In order to heal, wounds need blood vessel growth.Lead researcher Suzy V Torti said: "It’s been known for a long time that levels of ferritin are increased in people with tumours, which appears to play an important role in blood vessel formation.”
For the study, the researchers injected rodents with prostate cancer cells to determine how ferritin and HKa affect the formation of new blood vessels.Our new finding is that the interaction between ferritin and HKa can influence blood vessel formation.