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Breast cancer spread 'trigger' discovered Breast cancer spread ‘trigger’ discovered
(about 3 hours later)
New therapies to stop the progression of breast cancer could emerge from a fresh study into the disease, researchers believe.New therapies to stop the progression of breast cancer could emerge from a fresh study into the disease, researchers believe.
Scientists at the University of Edinburgh said they have discovered a “trigger” that allows breast cancer cells to spread to the lungs.Scientists at the University of Edinburgh said they have discovered a “trigger” that allows breast cancer cells to spread to the lungs.
They found that blocking those signals in mice with breast cancer greatly reduces the number of secondary tumours found in the lungs.They found that blocking those signals in mice with breast cancer greatly reduces the number of secondary tumours found in the lungs.
The researchers hope their findings may one day translate into new treatments to stop the progression of breast cancer in the human body.The researchers hope their findings may one day translate into new treatments to stop the progression of breast cancer in the human body.
The majority of deaths from breast cancer are said to be caused by the tumour spreading to other parts of the body, with the lungs often among the first organs to be affected. The majority of deaths from breast cancer are caused by the tumour spreading to other parts of the body, with the lungs often among the first organs affected.
Researchers at the university’s MRC Centre for Reproductive Health investigated the role that immune cells called macrophages play in helping cells spread from the original tumour. Their previous research has shown that breast cancer cells need the support of macrophages to invade the lungs and set up secondary tumours. Researchers at the university’s MRC centre for reproductive health investigated the role that immune cells called macrophages play in helping cells spread from the original tumour. Their previous research has shown that breast cancer cells need the support of macrophages to invade the lungs and set up secondary tumours.
The team’s latest research found that macrophages require signalling molecules called chemokines to communicate with breast cancer cells. But when scientists blocked these signals in mice, they found the number of secondary tumours in the lungs was reduced by up to two-thirds.The team’s latest research found that macrophages require signalling molecules called chemokines to communicate with breast cancer cells. But when scientists blocked these signals in mice, they found the number of secondary tumours in the lungs was reduced by up to two-thirds.
In addition, blocking the signals helped stop the cancer cells getting into the lungs from the blood stream, and hindered those that did get into the lungs from establishing themselves and forming new tumours.In addition, blocking the signals helped stop the cancer cells getting into the lungs from the blood stream, and hindered those that did get into the lungs from establishing themselves and forming new tumours.
Human cells appear to use the same chemokine signals to communicate with each other, prompting researchers to hope that their findings may translate into new treatments to stop breast cancer spreading to other parts of the body.Human cells appear to use the same chemokine signals to communicate with each other, prompting researchers to hope that their findings may translate into new treatments to stop breast cancer spreading to other parts of the body.
The results suggest that targeting a signalling molecule called CCR1 may result in fewer unwanted side-effects for patients while stopping the spread of breast cancer cells, experts said.The results suggest that targeting a signalling molecule called CCR1 may result in fewer unwanted side-effects for patients while stopping the spread of breast cancer cells, experts said.
Prof Jeffrey Pollard, the centre’s director, said: “Our findings open the door to the development of treatments that target the tumour microenvironment, which may stop the deadly progression of breast cancer in its tracks.”Prof Jeffrey Pollard, the centre’s director, said: “Our findings open the door to the development of treatments that target the tumour microenvironment, which may stop the deadly progression of breast cancer in its tracks.”
The study, funded by the United States Department of Defence, National Institutes of Health, Medical Research Council and the Wellcome Trust, is published in the Journal Of Experimental Medicine. The study, funded by the US Department of Defence and National Institutes of Health, and the Medical Research Council and the Wellcome Trust in the UK, is published in the Journal Of Experimental Medicine.
James Jopling, Scotland director of the Breast Cancer Campaign and Breakthrough Breast Cancer, said: “Research supports the idea that cells of the immune system, such as macrophages, play a crucial role in the growth and spread of breast cancer. This Scottish study reveals even more detail about the complex relationship of immune cells and cancer cells in the development of secondary breast cancer.James Jopling, Scotland director of the Breast Cancer Campaign and Breakthrough Breast Cancer, said: “Research supports the idea that cells of the immune system, such as macrophages, play a crucial role in the growth and spread of breast cancer. This Scottish study reveals even more detail about the complex relationship of immune cells and cancer cells in the development of secondary breast cancer.
“Although only studied in mice, it’s exciting to learn that knocking out communication between these cells can reduce the chance of a secondary tumour developing in the lungs, as it could highlight a new avenue for research into treatments to stop the development of secondary breast cancer. It will be interesting to see if this work translates into a useful way to treat breastcancer in humans. “Although only studied in mice, it’s exciting to learn that knocking out communication between these cells can reduce the chance of a secondary tumour developing in the lungs, as it could highlight a new avenue for research into treatments to stop the development of secondary breast cancer. It will be interesting to see if this work translates into a useful way to treat breast cancer in humans.
“Over 1,000 women die of breast cancer every year in Scotland and secondary breast cancer is responsible for almost all of these deaths so we welcome any research which furthers our understanding of the disease and takes us ever closer to stopping women dying from it.”“Over 1,000 women die of breast cancer every year in Scotland and secondary breast cancer is responsible for almost all of these deaths so we welcome any research which furthers our understanding of the disease and takes us ever closer to stopping women dying from it.”