Discovery revolutionizes cancer therapy: SELENOO and metastases in focus!

Discovery revolutionizes cancer therapy: SELENOO and metastases in focus!

In a significant study, a research team from the Medical Faculty of the University of Duisburg-Essen has uncovered the role of the protein SELENOO in the metastasis of cancer cells. The results of the study in the specialist journal Cancer Research published show that increased expression of SELENOO occurs particularly in patients with malignant melanoma and is associated with increased metastasis and poorer survival rates. SELENOO deficiency was studied in mouse models and resulted in a significant reduction in metastasis formation in visceral organs.

The protein SELENOO is an evolutionarily conserved selenoprotein that catalyzes AMPylation. These post-translational modifications are crucial for the response to oxidative stress in bacteria and yeast, but also for human diseases. In particular, oxidative stress in the blood is shown to impair the survival of metastatic melanoma cells, highlighting the importance of SELENOO in a tumor environment. According to the researchers, high SELENOO expression correlates with metastasis and poorer overall survival in melanoma patients, highlighting the need for more detailed investigation and possibly targeted therapy.

Function and meaning of SELENOO

SELENOO acts as an antioxidant and thus protects cells from oxidative stress, which is often associated with tumor progression. In the experimental models, a deficiency of SELENOO resulted in significantly reduced metastasis formation. These results can be reactivated by treatment with the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine ​​and could therefore provide important clues for future therapeutic approaches.

During the scientific investigation, it was also found that SELENOO AMPylated several mitochondrial substrates, including succinate dehydrogenase subunit A, one of the key components of mitochondrial complex II. This suggests that SELENOO not only plays a role in regulating oxidative stress, but also influences mitochondrial function, which is crucial for cell development and tumor cell metastasis. Studies show that SELENOO deficiency limits melanoma metastasis by modulating mitochondrial activity and oxidative stress, opening a new perspective in cancer research.

Consequences for cancer research

The discoveries about SELENOO could have far-reaching consequences for cancer research and the development of new treatment strategies. These findings imply that regulating SELENOO or its signaling pathways may be effective in reducing melanoma metastasis. Such therapeutic approaches could be particularly important given the impressive increase in skin cancer diagnoses in recent years.

Overall, research on SELENOO leads to a deeper understanding of the biological processes underlying tumor progression and could pave the way for new, targeted therapies that could help patients with aggressive forms of cancer.