Search form

menu menu

Belgian scientists find way to suppress spread of breast cancer

10:52 31/07/2015
Scientists from VIB and KU Leuven have found that blocking an oxygen sensor impedes the spread of breast cancer without promoting tumour growth

A team of scientists at the Flemish life sciences research institute VIB and the University of Leuven, led by Professor Peter Carmeliet, have demonstrated that reducing the expression of the cellular PHD2 oxygen sensor impedes the spread of breast cancers to other parts of the body.

Breast cancer is the second biggest cause of cancer death among women, mainly because of this spread, known as metastasis, for which there is currently no efficient therapy. The new study also showed that, contrary to earlier notions, genetically blocking PHD2 expression does not promote tumour growth and is therefore a safe therapeutic approach.

Blocking the PHD2 oxygen sensor reduces the spread of breast cancer in two ways. “Firstly, it helps blood vessels in tumours to return to their normal, stronger state, reducing the opportunity for cancer cells to escape through the vessel wall,” explained Carmeliet (pictured). “Secondly, it stops cancer cells from hijacking neighbouring activated fibroblast cells and instructing them to build highways of connective support tissue that the cancer cells can use to migrate into other areas of the body.”

The study results, published in the medical journal Cell Reports, open the door to further studies exploring the therapeutic potential of PHD2 suppression in treating human breast cancer.

Photo © KU Leuven/Rob Stevens

Written by Andy Furniere

Comments

jat4

Interesting!!

Jul 31, 2015 12:14
salsadancer

Nobel Prize if they find a longlasting cure.

Jul 31, 2015 19:53
acsonline

Well done guys!

Aug 2, 2015 20:52
sadiebaca

No doubt, breast cancer is one of the leading cause of death among women. It is only be cured in the condition when get identified in initial stage. Thus knowing about the 3D mammogram screening tests whose details available at recnac is quite essential. In earlier-stage doctors can advise a aggressive and rigorous course of treatment to get rid of this problem completely. But if it has spread into places like the bones, lungs or liver (the condition known as metastasis) then it might ultimately going to take life as there is no effective therapy out there. Now your research will definitely be of help to cure this condition too.

Aug 7, 2015 14:13