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RANKL/RANK suppression as a potential new target for the therapy of colon cancer metastases
In a recent publication, researchers have confirmed the role of a TNF receptor superfamily member and its ligand as a driver of Colorectal cancer (CRC) progression and metastasis. Treg-derived RANK and its ligand RANKL were found to cause the production of the chemokine, CCL20 by tumour cells, which would interact with more Tregs, leading to more Tregs being recruited. This positive feedback loop in turn leads to promotion of cancer cell stemness and metastasis. The research conducted in this study was built upon previous findings of RANK/RANKL’s association with CRC. The findings from this study are highly encouraging as they may become an effective drug target to reduce cancer spread, and the disease burden of metastasis.