Cancer cells have developed multiple mechanisms to thrive.

One example, derived from age-old theories of evolution, is positive selection i.e., the propensity of cells with favourable cancer mutations to flourish.

However, the role of negative selection - the process of foregoing cells with disadvantageous mutations - has not been clearly linked with cancer.

Now, a team led by Masanobu Oshima at Kanazawa University has revealed the potential involvement of negative selection in intestinal tumours.

The research is published in the journal Cancer Science.

The team started its research by isolating and propagating cells from the intestinal tumours of mice. Upon transplanting into the spleens of mice the ability of these cells to migrate, or metastasise, into the livers was observed. It was seen that 2 weeks after the procedure 30% of the transplanted cells did not migrate into the liver at all.

However, genetic profiling of the migratory and nonmigratory cells revealed that both types had, in fact, all cancer mutations from the original tumour intact. The loss of metastatic potential in some cells was hence not attributed to the loss of cancer mutations.

All types of propagated cells were then grown on gel-based matrices (which mimic the internal tissue milieu).

However, the nonmetastatic cells displayed reduced growth and survival rates. Thus, it was probable that these unfavourable cancer cells were on track for elimination due to negative selection. To subsequently check for tumour-inducing properties, all cell types were implanted into healthy mice.

Indeed, nonmetastatic cells did not generate tumours either.

Now, the researchers have discovered previously that nonmetastatic cells often migrate along with metastatic ones. However, when the cells were transplanted together the nonmetastatic cells only partially migrated.

To understand the probable cause of their reduction in metastasis, genetic sequencing was conducted which revealed that the genetic profiles of metastatic versus nonmetastatic cells were considerably different. In fact, nonmetastatic cells displayed the most pronounced reductions in genes which exhibit features of stem cells (which can grow indefinitely).

Finally, the pattern of metastasis of all cell types was assessed after the cells were propagated over multiple rounds.

While the nonmetastatic cells retained a complete loss of metastasis down the line, some of the metastatic cells also eventually developed a reduction in this ability, coupled with the inhibition of stem cell–like genes.

This study establishes that certain cancer cells lose their migratory properties and are, thus, eliminated in order for tumour tissues to grow.

The research team also reported an inhibition of stem cell–related genes as a probable cause.

“The mechanism underlying the loss of metastatic ability will be important for future development of therapeutic strategies against metastasis,” suggest the researchers. These cells could be the key for keeping the spread of cancers in check.

Positive and negative selection: Positive selection, as first theorised by Darwin, is the evolutionary principle that genes or traits which are favourable will be retained and become more common in a population over time.

These are typically traits that support a cell or organism's survival and reproduction. On the other hand, negative selection denotes the theory that traits which are detrimental to survival (such as disease-causing genes) will be eliminated over time.

In the context of cancer biology, positive selection encompasses the promotion of traits such as infinite growth and evading the immune system which allow cancer cells to spread uncontrollably. Till date, research has shown primarily how cancer cells evolve by positive selection.

In this study the researchers show that negative selection also plays a role in cancer biology by eradicating cells that stop exhibiting tumourigenic characteristics.

Source: Kanazawa University