Research summary
April 2008
Protein triggers aggressive breast cancer
Researchers have discovered a protein that appears to control the spread of breast cancer cells to other parts of the body.
Background
Metastatic breast cancer occurs when cancer cells break away from the original tumour and spread to other parts of the body, such as the bones, brain or lungs, through the blood and lymph nodes. There is, at present, no way of accurately predicting whether the cancer will spread to other parts of the body.
Research findings
Researchers have found that the protein SATB1 can alter the behaviour of more than 1000 genes in breast cancer cells.
By conducting laboratory studies in human breast cells and mice, researchers established that SATB1 promotes breast cancer tumour growth and the spread of cancer to other parts of the body.
Researchers found that cancer cells which do not normally express SATB1 and do not normally metastasise can become aggressive if they are modified to express SATB1. Conversely, by removing SATB1 from metastatic cells, researchers found that metastasis and tumour growth could be halted.
National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre comment
While the research is still in its early stages, this finding may be useful in predicting the likelihood that a person’s cancer will spread to other parts of the body, highlighting those patients who may benefit most from intensive treatment.
The study may also provide the foundation for research into ways of targeting the SATB1 protein to stop the initial spread of breast cancer.
However, further research in the form of clinical trials over a number of years may be needed to determine the role SATB1 may play in the human body and to discover any side effects that may occur as a result of inhibiting SATB1 in order to stop the spread of cancer.
Source
Source: A protein that triggers aggressive breast cancer. Nature 452 Online 13 March 2008: 187-193.