Blocking breast cancer growth
Scientists have discovered how a molecule blocks a protein which causes breast cancer to develop and spread, according to research published in Nature Chemistry.
22 Aug
Email it
Your message will be:
Thought you might be interested in this page on Breakthrough Breast Cancer.
Researchers at the Cambridge Research Institute have revealed at the molecular level how thiostrepton – a naturally-occurring cancer-protector molecule – ‘clamps’ a cancer-causing protein called FOXM1, preventing it from working.
Dr Rachel Greig, Senior Policy Officer at Breakthrough Breast Cancer, said: “This clever piece of work shows how laboratory research can throw up totally new ideas about how to treat cancer.
“The next step is for scientists to design a treatment which mimics the action of thiostrepton and blocks cancer cells, which could then be useful to stop the spread of breast cancer.
“This work may also open the door for other molecules to be investigated which could also have cancer-blocking potential.”
The work was funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and the University of Cambridge.
