A research team from the University of Cambridge in the UK has found that "freezing" key molecules in the brain - hyaluronic acid - can effectively prevent the spread of brain cancer cells. This achievement is expected to provide new directions for the treatment of brain cancer, and related research papers have been published in the latest issue of the Royal Society Open Science journal. Hyaluronic acid is a sugar like polymer that constitutes most of the supporting structures in the brain. The team found that cancer cells rely on the flexibility of this molecule to attach to receptors on the surface of other cancer cells, thereby triggering the diffusion mechanism. If hyaluronic acid is "frozen" in situ and its flexibility is restricted, cancer cells can stop moving and unable to invade surrounding tissues, achieving "reprogramming". The treatment of brain cancer has always faced severe challenges, and even if the tumor is surgically removed, residual cancer cells may still regenerate within months. Existing drugs are difficult to penetrate the blood-brain barrier, and radiotherapy can only delay rather than prevent recurrence. The innovation of the latest research lies in not directly attacking tumor cells, but changing the surrounding extracellular matrix to contain the spread of cancer cells from an environmental perspective. With the help of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy technology, the team observed that hyaluronic acid molecules twist into specific shapes and tightly bind to CD44 receptors on the surface of cancer cells, thereby driving diffusion. Once the hyaluronic acid molecules are cross-linked and 'frozen', the diffusion signal is turned off. Even at low concentrations of hyaluronic acid, this mechanism remains effective, indicating that cancer cells are not physically confined, but rather induced into a dormant state. This discovery also explains why glioblastoma often recurs at the surgical site, as postoperative edema can dilute hyaluronic acid, enhance its flexibility, and instead promote cancer cell invasion. Freezing it can effectively prevent recurrence. The team hopes to further conduct animal experiments and ultimately advance to clinical trials. (New Society)