Cancer: Central role of cell 'skeleton' discovered

(CNRS) All cells possess a cytoskeleton which allows them to move and maintain their shape. However, scientists recently showed that a part of this cytoskeleton called branched actin is also essential to cell proliferation. This mechanism could nevertheless represent a therapeutic target to fight certain types of cancer. Inhibiting the formation of branched actin, for example, prevents the growth of a type of melanoma cells, against which no other specific treatment exists today.
Source: EurekAlert! - Cancer - Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: news