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tgass t1_iqxcnjc wrote

Reply to comment by Scoobydoomed in Cambridge cancer breakthrough may prompt rethink of metastasis by blaspheminCapn

I am confused.

The article states that "the scientists blocked the function of the NALCN protein, and found that it triggered metastasis in stomach, intestinal and pancreatic cancers."

Why would you use that mechanism if it can cause metastasis?
It seems like a huge gamble, and possibly cause early onset metastasis.

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Scoobydoomed t1_iqz1246 wrote

They were testing something unrelated with blocking NALCN (mobilization of salt in cells) and found out about the metastasis on accident.

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beatthestupidout t1_iqzsa3s wrote

I imagine because if you can figure out how to unblock it, you can prevent metastasis? That has enormous implications in cancer treatment, suddenly a whole host of cancers become curable if they're not just constantly cropping up all over the body.

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