London, August 16 : The discovery by scientists at Cancer Research has offered clues for new drugs to prevent cancer spreading.

They have discovered how cancerous cells can “elbow” their way out of tumours, and identified a protein called JAK, which helps cancerous cells generate the force needed to move.

Scientists at the Institute of Cancer Research, who investigated the chemicals involved in cell migration in melanoma - skin cancer - said cancerous cells can move in two ways.

They can “elbow” their way out of a tumour or the tumour itself can form corridors down which the cells can escape.

Lead researcher Professor Chris Marshall said both processes were being controlled by the same chemical.

“There is a common theme of using force, force generated by the same mechanism - the same molecule, called JAK,” the BBC quoted him as saying.

Dr Lesley Walker, Cancer Research UK''s director of cancer information, said: “A huge challenge in successfully treating cancer is stopping it from spreading around the body, and keeping cancer that has already spread at bay.

“Discovering how cancer cells can funnel grooves though tissues, to squeeze away from primary tumours and spread to new sites, gives scientists fresh understanding of ways to stop cancer spread - literally in its tracks,” Walker added.

The study has been published in Cancer Cell. (ANI)