“A protein which administers the development of human embryonic stem cells also slows down the growth and spread of malignant melanoma which a deadliest skin cancer” discovered by the Northwestern University researchers.

Metastatic melanoma has a death rate of more than 80% and the survival of the patient is less seven and half months that is developed from the transformation of skin pigment cells or melanocytes. This study led by Dr. Mary J.C Hendrix found that a protein called Lefty prevents the breast cancer cells from metastasizing. Lefty is secreted only in human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and no in any other stem cells.

Embryonic stem cells can become around 200 types of cells in the adult body depending on the signals received from their microenvironment and hence it is known as pluripotent. The gradual progress of cancer is also due to the receiving and releasing of signals by the malignant cells from their microenvironment which promote the tumor growth and metastasis.

Revolutionizing work done by Hendrix and colleagues is explaining how the melanoma cells gain improved abilities to migrate, invade and metastasize by remaining almost unidentified by the immune system. Hendrix and fellow researchers demonstrated before that a three-dimensional matrix accustomed by hESCs persuade metastatic melanoma cells to revert to normal skin cell like type with the ability to form colonies in the mode of hESCs.

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