Cancer cell movement during metastasis is a dynamic process regulated by several different signals. However, the way cells receive, process and respond to these signals has been extremely hard to detect, but is made easier by a new visualisation tool. In a new study led by Professor Johanna Ivaska and Dr James Conway, researchers at the University of Turku, Finland, have developed a new fluorescent probe to visualise signaling dynamics in moving cancer cells, which they used to uncover a new therapeutic possibility for limiting breast cancer spread.

“Signaling networks inside cells control everything from growth to movement, but visualising this in living cells requires new and refined methods,” explains Dr James Conway, the lead researcher of the team, “I set out to see these invisible signals and came up with a new tool, which we call Illusia, to do just that.”

Breast cancer patients who experience the transition from pre-malignant ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) to invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) face a considerably poorer prognosis and metastatic disease is incurable.

The research team’s work focuses on identifying factors that regulate metastatic movement of breast cancer cells, with the protein phosphatase Shp2, “Ship two”, emerging as a key regulator of metastasis through regulation of cancer cell interactions with the surrounding tissue.

“Cell movement is essential for cancer cells to spread from the primary tumour to secondary sites. Even though this is widely recognised as the key step in cancer progression, there are currently no cancer therapies that block cell migration or invasion. Our research finds that drugs currently in clinical trials for blocking growth in other tumour types may also be effective in blocking breast cancer spread,” says Professor Ivaska, the Principal Investigator on the project.

The implications of this discovery extend beyond breast cancer alone and may help us to understand cancer cell invasion from solid tumours more generally.

“Researchers develop colour-based probes to detect different events in live cells, but this type of cell-dynamics reporter had not been available before. It has transformed our understanding of what sorts of signaling are needed for cell movement,” explains Dr Conway and continues “These probes often take on names from pop culture references. The lab came up with the name Illusia, drawing from an old Finnish story about a fairy that comes to earth from the rainbow. This gave our work a colourful twist, something we are all seeking in today’s world, as we strive for better treatments.”

The team is now exploring the therapeutic avenues that have opened up as a result of these recent findings.

Professor Johanna Ivaska is a research group leader at the InFLAMES Flagship, a joint initiative between the University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, Finland, aiming to identify new drug targets and develop personalized therapies in collaboration with biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies. InFLAMES is part of the Research Council of Finland´s flagship programme.

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