We have discovered that part of a collagen molecule - lamstatin- inhibits growth of lymphatic cells and their communicating networks. Excessive lymphatic growth occurs in lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM)- a fatal disease which affects young women- and many cancers. We have shown that lamstatin prevents growth of lymph vessels in a skin tumour in mice and we will investigate if it can prevent spread of tumours to other organs which has exciting implications for the treatment of cancer.