The specific protein which activate the process that releases cancer cells, is discovered. Disabled-2 or Dab2 allows the epithelial cells to spread and develop into tumors, in other parts of the body.

This process is called epithelial-mesenchymal transdifferientiation (EMT). EMT plays an important role in releasing the cells on the surface of solid tumor. This process converts them into transient mesenchymal cells. They have the ability to grow a new tumor. This often takes place in breasts, pancreas and rectum, which turns out to be cancer.


The studies found that the compound named 'transforming growth factor' triggers the evolution of Dab2 protein, which in turn activates the EMT process. EMT can be prevented if the Dab2 protein is knocked out. Further researches regarding the subject is going on.