Found at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4111260.stm

A tiny tropical fish is giving scientists clues about how the most
serious form of skin cancer develops.

A team from the University of Iowa and Northwestern University found
embryos of zebrafish contain molecular cues that can stop tumours
developing.

They say the study provides an avenue for finding out more about what
fuels the growth of malignant melanomas.

The research, which has been welcomed by Cancer Research UK, is
published in the journal Developmental Dynamics.

The researchers implanted zebrafish embryos with fluorescently tagged
human skin cancer cells.

The cells were still moving around and dividing normally, but they did
not form tumours, suggesting they were responding to something in the
environment of the embryos.

The researchers say they now want to carry out further research to
find out exactly what it is within the embryos which stops the cells
forming tumours.

'Useful tool'

Dr Robert Cornell, an embryo specialist at the University of Iowa who
worked on the study, said: "These cancer cells don't do what they do
in other circumstances, such as when they are placed under a mouse's
skin.

"The objective of our work is to use this very simple system to
identify the exact component that can influence the behaviour of
melanoma and other cancer types."

He said finding out why could lead to the development of new
medications to tackle skin cancers.

"When we identify the crucial factor, whatever it may be, we can look
for the equivalent in humans, or make a synthetic version."

Dr Julie Sharp, of Cancer Research UK, said: "Zebrafish provide
scientists with a useful tool for learning more about cancer and how
it develops.

"The researchers from Iowa have discovered that zebrafish embryos
containing human skin cancer cells were able to send signals to the
cancer cells - telling them to behave normally and stopping the
cancer.

"This research is in its early days but it may provide useful insights
into how this cancer develops and possible ways of stopping it."


--Tony