When cells multiply and migrate, they can be compressed and their nucleus may break open. This phenomenon causes DNA damage. Scientists have now shown that this facilitates the spread of cancer cells in breast tumors.

These scientists have shown that when cells are compressed and that breaks the nucleus, DNA can come into contact with a DNA-destroying enzyme called TREX1. TREX1’s normal function is to protect the cell by destroying the DNA of viruses that try to infect it, but under these unusual conditions it attacks the cell DNA.

In healthy tissue, the cells then show signs of ageing and stop dividing. However, the research team has observed that the consequences are different in a breast tumour: instead of killing the cancer cells, the damage caused by TREX1 will make them more invasive. For example, when the tumour grows too much, the cells are compressed and then acquire the ability to destroy their environment to invade neighbouring tissues, with increased risk of metastasis.

These results reveal the importance of the enzyme TREX1 in the development of breast cancer and also in ageing. The scientists now want to identify and test molecules that could block its activity. Because TREX1 has an important role in modulating inflammation and immunity, these inhibitors may have many applications in therapy.

Notes

1- In France, researchers from the Laboratoire Biologie Cellulaire et Cancer (CNRS/Institut Curie/Sorbonne Universite), the Laboratoire Immunite et Cancer (INSERM/Institut Curie), the Laboratoire Physico-chimie Curie (CNRS/Sorbonne Universite/Institut Curie), the Laboratoire Processus d’Activation Selectif par Transfert d’Energie Uni-electronique ou Radiatif (CNRS/ENS — PSL/Sorbonne Universite) and the Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers (INSERM/Universite de Paris/Sorbonne Universite) participated in this work.

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