Researchers from Centenary’s Molecular Hepatology unit found that blocking a widespread enzyme called DPP9 can slow down the movement of cells and potentially stop tumours from spreading and growing. The finding was published in the cell biology journal BBA Molecular Cell Research.

The enzyme was first discovered and cloned by researchers at the Centenary Institute and the Sydney Medical School in 1999. Ever since they’ve been studying what it does, with a view to its possible use as a cancer drug target.

Under the confocal microscopes, scientists can watch the enzyme at work and then block DPP9, and see the cells slow down. This gives the clearest evidence that this enzyme will be a good cancer drug target. Further, they render a conclusion from this study that this enzyme is absolutely critical to cell movement, and without cell movement, tumors can’t grow or spread.

Investigators discovered DPP9 accumulates at the leading edge of the moving cell when cells were stimulated to move. DPP9 was also associated with the adhesion protein complex that glues the cell to the external matrix though which it moves, acting as an anchor point to pull the cell along. When the action of DPP9 was inhibited in cells, such movement and adhesion diminished.

DPP9 is looking more and more like a cancer drug target. But at present we have no specific inhibitors for it, even though chemists have been trying for some years to make one, more investigators need to throw more resources at this problem.”

Reference:

Dipeptidyl peptidase 9 subcellular localization and a role in cell adhesion involving focal adhesion kinase and paxillin. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) – Molecular Cell Research, 2015; 1853 (2): 470