Scientists at The Institute of Cancer Research have identified how certain breast cancer cells enter a dormant state to evade treatment, offering new avenues for preventing relapse in ER+ breast cancer cases.
Scientists at The Institute of Cancer Research in London have unveiled a significant breakthrough in the understanding of breast cancer mechanisms, specifically in how certain breast cancer cells evade treatment by entering a dormant state. This discovery has critical implications for the treatment of oestrogen receptor positive (ER+) breast cancer, which constitutes 80% of all breast cancer cases and is notorious for its potential to relapse after initial therapy.
The research, published in the journal Cancer Discovery, reveals that hormone therapy, a common treatment to prevent the recurrence of breast cancer, can inadvertently cause some cancer cells to become dormant rather than be eradicated. This dormant state allows cancer cells to survive treatment and potentially cause a relapse years later, presenting a formidable challenge in cancer management.
Leading the study, Professor Luca Magnani emphasized the importance of understanding the reasons behind cancer cell dormancy and relapse, with the aim of developing strategies to target and destroy these dormant cells before they can reawaken.
A key finding from the study is the identification of the role of an enzyme called G9a in this process. The researchers demonstrated that inhibiting G9a can prevent cancer cells from entering dormancy and also kill cells that are already dormant. This suggests a possible avenue for the development of new treatments aimed at preventing breast cancer recurrence by targeting and eliminating dormant cancer cells.
Dr. Tayyaba Jiwani from Cancer Research UK, which provided funding for the study, highlighted the importance of these findings in the pursuit of innovative treatments to prevent breast cancer recurrence. By revealing new potential targets for treatment, the study offers hope for the development of therapies that are more effective in tackling breast cancer and reducing deaths associated with the disease.
This research marks a promising step towards enhancing our understanding of breast cancer relapse and developing more effective treatment options for patients, particularly those with ER+ breast cancer.
