A new EU-funded study has uncovered the specific gene that must be present before malignant melanoma can spread. Earlier studies using cancer cell lines implicated P-Rex1 in prostate, breast and ovarian cancer, but this is the first time it has been shown to be involved in the metastasis of melanoma.

A study funded in part by a Marie Curie Industry-Academia Partnership and Pathway grant, as part of the 'People' Theme of the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7), has pinpointed the specific gene that must be present before malignant melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer, can spread. The gene P-Rex1 causes cancer cells to break away from the original tumour and spread or metastasise to other organs like the brain, something which can cause them to fail.

The researchers team found that the gene P-Rex1 plays a key role in the spread of malignant melanoma in mice samples. The researchers observed that if P-Rex1 was absent from cells, the melanoma tumours were unable to spread. After further investigation, they worked out the exact mechanism that P-Rex1 uses to drive metastasis. Their results were confirmed when they found that in human melanoma samples taken from patients' tumours, raised levels of P-Rex1 were present.

Thanks to this discovery the fight against the spread of skin cancer will be easier. Cancer's ability to metastasise is what makes it so dangerous, so understanding what triggers metastatic behaviour is vital for furthering knowledge of the disease and reducing high death rates. Malignant melanoma still causes around 46,000 deaths worldwide each year and it is particularly prevalent in young people.