The first-quartile journal Scientific Reports has published the results of a study made possible thanks to the joint efforts of researchers Laura Gasa and Abril Sánchez, together with other members of the research group from the University’s Department of Basic Sciences. The research, which also involved researchers from the Catalan Oncology Institute (ICO) and the University of Chicago, shed light on a new key factor in the progression of lung cancer.
To undertake this project, the researchers analysed the extent to which certain proteins that regulate cell division were present in tumour samples taken from lung cancer patients. The research team observed a heightened presence of the protein CNTD2 in the tumour tissue, which promotes cell growth and migration and thus contributes to the process of metastasis.
The study also points to a higher survival rate among patients with a greater amount of CNTD2. This suggests that expression levels of CNTD2 may be used as a tool for predicting the progression of this type of cancer.
