There is growing evidence to suggest that tumor prog ression may be caused by cell-cell communications. In developing Drosophila epithelium, found that mitochondrial dysfunction cooperates with oncogenic Ras to drive tumor progression through cell-cell communications. Cells with mitochondrial dysfunction and Ras activation express secretory growth factors Upd (IL- 6 homolog) and Wingless (Wnt homolog), which trigger tumor progression in neighboring benign tumors activating Ras. Interestingly, mitochondrial dysfunction is often observed in human cancers. I have therefore concluded that similar mechanisms could contribute to tumor progression in human cancers.

Shizue Ohsawa, PhD

Lecturer,
Graduate School of Biostudies