A ‘molecular switch’ that heals the gut—and that colorectal cancer hijacks to spread (Medical Xpress)

Researchers at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center have identified ZFP36L2, a protein that acts as a molecular switch controlling how intestinal cells repair and regenerate after injury. The study found that colorectal cancer cells hijack this same repair mechanism to revert to a stem cell-like state, enabling them to spread to distant organs and form metastases. The findings not only reveal a fundamental mechanism behind colorectal cancer progression but also identify ZFP36L2 as a potential therapeutic target to prevent metastasis and improve treatment outcomes. Researchers also suggest the discovery could help identify patients at greater risk of developing treatment-resistant disease.