Cancer cells employ self-consumption to ensure their survival

In a groundbreaking study, a team of researchers from various institutions, including The Danish Cancer Society, The University of Copenhagen, The University of Southern Denmark, and The Biotech Research and Innovation Centre at the University of Copenhagen, have offered a deeper understanding of the immune system's use of macropinocytosis to combat infections, and more importantly, its role in the repair of cancer cell membranes.

The research, published in the prestigious journal Science Advances (DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abg1969), focuses on the membrane of cancer cells and the technique they use to repair damage - macropinocytosis. This process involves the cancer cells pulling the intact cell membrane over the damaged area and sealing the hole, similar to a cellular patch job.

However, the study suggests that this initial patching may be rough, and a more thorough repair may be needed. This is beneficial for the cancer cells, as their frequent division requires a constant recycling of membrane components.

The research team, led by Jan Dörr and Fabian Coscia, also from institutions in Berlin, particularly the Berlin-Buch research site, have been investigating the mechanisms of macropinocytosis in cancer cells. They have found that aggressive cancer cells may use this technique to repair their membranes.

Intriguingly, if macropinocytosis is inhibited, cancer cells cannot repair the damage and die. This discovery provides new insights into the role of macropinocytosis in cancer cell membrane repair.

The findings also have implications for the immune system, as macropinocytosis is used by immune cells to enclose and eat foreign bodies, which is crucial for the immune system's ability to fight infections.

The research team continues to investigate how cancer cells protect their membranes, particularly in relation to macropinocytosis, and their work could lead to new strategies for treating cancer.