Researchers have been able to discover that cancer cells have the ability to spread out and infect healthy cells by releasing "bubbles".

This recent finding was published in the online edition of Nature Cell Biology. The discovery is a product of the joint efforts of Dr. Janusz Rak at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC)and Dr. Guha from the University of Toronto.

The two have found out that the cancer cell have the ability to communicate with other healthy cells by releasing vesicles. The "bubbles" contain cancer-causing (oncogenic) proteins that trigger specific mechanisms when they merge with non- or less-malignant cells.

In their study, they were able to show that the mutated variant III epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFRvIII) triggers the production of small vesicles that when released it's able to carry mutated copies of the EGFRvIII on their surfaces.

These "oncosomes" have reveled that they are not confined in one area. In fact, they have the ability to migrate to other places. They will continue on moving until they are able to fuse with another cell, may it be healthy or benign tumoral.

Once it fully integrates itself into the membrane of the cells, it starts stimulating specific metabolic pathways to make the cells act in aberrant and malignant ways. These changes could impact tumor behavior with an increase in cell numbers.

Regarding this latest finding, Dr. Rak further explained the situation by saying:

With this information we can imagine that many mutant proteins are not necessarily confined to the cells that make them, but rather can migrate and spread around as cargo of oncosomes, a process that could be referred to as formation of the "oncogenic field effect".

It demonstrates that cancer is a multi-cell process, where the cells talk to one another extensively. This goes against the traditional view that a single 'mutated' cell will simply multiply uncontrollably to the point of forming a tumor. This discovery opens exciting new research avenues, but we also hope that it will lead to positive outcomes for patients.

With this discovery, it can add another book of information on the growing knowledge on cancer. This could effectively provide a helpful step towards the journey of finding personalized medicine who those who are afflicted by it. Hopefully, it will come in the near future.