Researchers have identified a complex of proteins that promotes the growth of some types of colon and gastric cancers, and shown that medications that block the function of this complex have the potential to be developed into a new treatment for these diseases. The complex of proteins, known as mTorc1 (mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1), has previously been implicated in the development of some other cancers, but this is the first time it has been shown to promote the growth of colon and gastric cancers that are associated with inflammation. Dr Stefan Thiem and Associate Professor Matthias Ernst from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute’s Cell Signalling and Cell Death division made the discovery with colleagues while at the Melbourne-Parkville Branch of the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research. Associate Professor Ernst is a Ludwig Institute Member. Their findings were published online on January 16, 2013 in the Journal of Clinical Investigation. Cancers of the digestive system are a significant cause of death in Australia. Colon (or bowel) cancer causes more than 4,000 deaths annually – more than any other cancer except lung cancer – while more than 1,000 Australians die from gastric (or stomach) cancer each year. Associate Professor Ernst said many types of colon and gastric cancer are associated with chronic inflammation. “We have previously shown that the immune system’s inflammatory response can promote the growth of tumors,” he said.Login Or Register To Read Full Story