| Summary: | Ovarian cancer: Natural compound suppresses cancer cell invasiveness Rab coupling protein (RCP)-induced tumor cell migration has been implicated in tumor pathophysiology and patient outcomes. Hoi Young Lee and colleagues at Konyang University in Daejeon, South Korea, have previously shown that RCP promotes ovarian cancer cell invasiveness by stabilizing cell adhesion receptors. In their latest study they find that RCP also increases the levels of two of its protein-binding partners and activates an important mediator of growth factor signaling, Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK). Interestingly, treating ovarian cancer cells with curcumin, a natural compound extracted from the spice turmeric, not only blocked the effects of RCP on cell adhesion and FAK activation, it also potentiated the inhibitory effects of the chemotherapeutic agent doxorubicin on cell invasiveness. Further research will determine whether curcumin could be used to halt ovarian cancer progression.
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