Scientists at Vanderbilt Health have uncovered a biological tug-of-war that could hold the key to preventing colorectal cancer. The discovery centers on two closely related cell surface proteins, LRIG1 and LRIG3, which help regulate the lining of the gastrointestinal tract. While researchers have long known that LRIG1 acts as a tumor suppressor, the role of its relative, LRIG3, has remained a point of scientific debate until now.
According to Dr. Robert Coffey Jr., an Ingram Professor of Cancer Research and lead author of the study, these two proteins perform a delicate balancing act that suppresses one of the most powerful drivers of colon cancer. By studying how these proteins interact, his team believes they have opened up entirely new avenues for exploring how to treat one of the deadliest forms of cancer in the United States.
Building on previous findings from 2012 regarding the Apc gatekeeper gene, the current research demonstrates a surprising antagonism between the two proteins. The team discovered that when both copies of the Lrig3 gene were removed in specific settings, tumor formation was drastically reduced. This indicates that while they are cousins, their opposing actions actually work in tandem to stabilize cellular signaling pathways and prevent uncontrolled growth.
Published recently in the journal Cellular and Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology, the study represents a collaborative effort involving several experts at Vanderbilt’s Epithelial Biology Center. Supported by grants from the National Cancer Institute and other foundations, this breakthrough provides a deeper understanding of why some cells turn cancerous and how medical science might eventually tip those scales back toward health.
