A team led by Dr. Manuel Litchman of the University of California School of medicine found the transformation of melanoma cells in samples of melanoma patients. The mechanism for this transformation is that growth-restricted cancer cells in the epidermis transform to attack other vital organs.
The tumor grows in the upper surface cortex, usually in a superficial proliferative phase. But when they grow and touch the deep layers where fat is present, the invasion of the tumor changes from horizontal to vertical. Manuel Litchman and his team co-cultured melanoma cells with adipocytes and identified adipocytes as involved in the transformation of melanoma cells. The researchers found that fat cells transfer cytokines that affect gene expression to melanoma cells. When these cytokines bind to receptors on melanoma cells, they signal to suppress the expression of a receptor called TGF- beta. TGF- beta receptor concentration in fat cells decreased, so that part of the TGF- beta signal cannot bind to the receptor, tumor absorption of TGF- beta signal, further stimulate melanoma cells, making it more invasive.
At the same time, the researchers demonstrated that the transformation process is reversible. When the fat cells in the melanoma cells are removed, the activity of the cancer cells decreases, or even quiets down.
Based on the new findings, the researchers experimented with therapies that inhibit cytokines and TGF- beta, which inhibit metastasis and restore melanoma cells to their "resting state."
Dr. Litchman concludes, "This finding should be used as a foundation for new drug development and to prevent the metastasis and spread of melanoma."