Researchers have identified a gene, known as OGR1, that suppresses prostate cancer metastasis in mice.
Cancer deaths are largely attributed to tumor metastasis?when the cancer cells spread to other parts of the body?rather than primary tumors. Previous research has shown that OGR1 is expressed at lower levels in metastases than in primary prostate tumors.
Lisam Shanjukumar Singh, Ph.D., of Indiana University in Indianapolis and colleagues showed that prostate cancer cells that overexpress OGR1 formed fewer metastases in mice and migrated more slowly in laboratory tests.
?Our results show that OGR1 suppresses prostate cancer metastasis without affecting the primary tumor progression, suggesting that OGR1 is a novel metastasis suppressor gene for prostate cancer,? the authors write.