Messenger particles released by leukemia cells use a chemical modification on their surface to navigate a route to distant sites, where they release molecular cargo that lays the groundwork for the blood cancer’s spread.

The findings, from mouse and cell experiments conducted at KAUST, help explain one of the drivers of cancer metastasis. Moreover, they highlight a potential therapeutic strategy for combatting the progression of leukemia.

The researchers showed that, just like leukemia cells themselves, tiny packets of molecular cargo that the cells shed from their surface depend on an adhesion molecule called E-selectin to bind and travel to tissues throughout the body.

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