SCIENTISTS believe they have unlocked a major secret of how cancer spreads around the body.

They have established that a protein called Tes can stop cancer cells migrating from primary tumours to other areas. It also prevents cell growth and stops tumours forming.

The discovery by Cancer Research UK scientists published today in the journal Molecular Cell could lead to the manufacture of new drugs that can mimic the action of the protein.

Dr Kat Arney, a scientist with the charity, said: "This helps us to understand the complex jigsaw of how cancer cells operate and sheds new light on how they move. It does take a long time for new drugs to be developed but this opens up a whole new avenue of possibility in the development of more effective cancer treatments in future." There are many reasons why cancer cells break away from tumours instead of staying in one place like other cells.

A major cause of migration is a protein called Mena which is found in excessive amounts in tumours. It gives cancer cells their ability to move by "pushing out" one side of themselves and "crawling" along in a manner that has been likened to a fried egg.

Scientists have spent years focusing on how Mena functions and how other proteins stick to it. But they have now found that Tes has a different mechanism and shape from other proteins.

This enables Tes to lock onto Mena and "anchor" cancer cells to stop them moving around. In many cases, Mena is found in such large quantities that it cannot stop the disease spreading.

But cancer experts are confident that by studying how Tes functions they can find new ways to treat the disease..

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