Lung cancer cells produce a compound that helps the tumor spread to other parts of the body, a finding that could lead to a new way to prevent this dangerous development, researchers reported on Wednesday.They said a protein called versican hijacks elements of the immune system, generating inflammation that can spur the growth and spread of lung cancer.

Michael Karin of the University of California, San Diego, and colleagues made the findings in experiments with mice, but said the protein is found in low levels in some normal human lung cells and other tissues.

Versican is made in large amounts by lung cancer cells, especially in aggressive tumors, they reported in the journal Nature.