Scientists make breakthrough that could transform bowel and liver cancer treatment

Researchers at Cancer Research UK Scotland Institute have discovered a protein that could lead to new treatments for certain bowel and liver cancers by targeting genetic errors that cause them to grow

Scientists have made a breakthrough in identifying new therapies that could halt the progression of bowel and liver cancers. A team at the Cancer Research UK Scotland Institute in Glasgow examined cancer-causing genes, with particular focus on bowel and liver tissue, to understand why certain genes trigger cancers in particular parts of the body.

The scientists, working as part of the Cancer Grand Challenges programme established by Cancer Research UK and the National Cancer Institute, investigated genetic defects that enable cancer to exploit the body’s cellular signalling mechanism, which regulates when cells should multiply.

Cancer can then manipulate this mechanism, known as the WNT pathway, to develop tumours in the intestine and liver. Fresh findings published in Nature Genetics have revealed that a protein called nucleophosmin (NPM1), which plays a role in growth regulation, was present at elevated levels in bowel cancer and certain liver cancers, due to genetic faults in the WNT pathway.

Through inhibiting this protein, scientists discovered it may be feasible to create novel treatments for particular cancers that exploit the body’s growth mechanism via this genetic defect.

Professor Owen Sansom, who led the research project and serves as director of the Cancer Research UK Scotland Institute and the University of Glasgow, explained: “Because NPM1 isn’t essential for normal adult tissue health, blocking it could be a safe way to treat certain cancers, like some hard-to-treat bowel and liver cancers.

“We found that if NPM1 is removed, cancer cells struggle to make proteins properly and this allows a tumour suppressor to activate, preventing cancer growth. Increasing numbers of people are affected by these cancers, with some treatments unfortunately limited for some patients, so finding a new way to tackle these cancers is crucial.”

The breakthrough research forms part of the SpecifiCancer project, which examines why certain cancer-causing genes trigger cancers in particular tissues. Scientists have discovered a potential method to target the genetic mutations responsible for difficult-to-treat cancers affecting these organs. Scotland records among the highest incidences of bowel and liver cancer across the UK.

Approximately 4,200 people receive a bowel cancer diagnosis annually in the UK, with the disease remaining Scotland’s second leading cause of cancer-related deaths, accounting for roughly 1,700 fatalities each year.

Recent research from the American Cancer Society, published in The Lancet Oncology, revealed that early-onset bowel cancer rates among 25-49 year-olds are increasing in 27 of 50 nations examined, with Scottish and English young women experiencing faster growth rates than their male counterparts.

Liver cancer claims around 670 lives annually in Scotland. Proteins play a vital role in constructing bodily structures, including skin, hair and various tissues. However, when the body’s cellular communication network malfunctions, it can trigger tumour development.

Such malfunctions often stem from mutations within the body’s messaging system, which transmit incorrect instructions from DNA, resulting in uncontrolled cellular proliferation. SpecifiCancer received joint funding from Cancer Research UK and the Mark Foundation for Cancer Research in 2019 with the aim of discovering why certain cancer-causing genes trigger cancers in particular tissues only, identifying patterns that could lead to treatments tailored to individual patients or specific bodily areas.

The most recent study concentrated on bowel and liver cancers, though researchers are optimistic that their discoveries may extend to other cancer types. Scientists will now pursue medical interventions that inhibit NPM1 protein production.

Current therapies can reduce the pace of tumour development, so if a novel drug targeting NPM1 can be developed in a similar manner, it may offer a safe and effective approach to treating particular cancers.

Dr David Scott, director of Cancer Grand Challenges, said: “Scientific breakthroughs like this demonstrate the power of Cancer Grand Challenges to bring together the world’s best minds to transform our understanding of how cancer starts and, crucially, how we treat it. By scrutinising the fundamental processes that drive cancer, we can tackle the disease at its beginnings, driving progress towards real-world impact for people affected by cancer.”