Breast cancer spread may be reduced by silencing a gene

Date: Mar-03-2014Myoferlin, a protein only recently linked to cancer, may help breast cancer cells

transform so they can escape tumors and migrate to new sites. When researchers implanted mice

with breast cancer cells that couldn't make the protein because of its gene was switched off,

the cells did not transform into the type that migrates.

Researchers at The Ohio State University (OSU) in Columbus, had already shown this was

happening in cell cultures. Now in a study published in the journal PLOS ONE, they describe how they got similar results

in mice.

The mice implanted with breast cancer cells lacking the ability to make myoferlin developed

small, self-contained tumors that only contained non-migrating cells.

But mice implanted with breast cancer cells that could make myoferlin developed larger,

irregular tumors whose cells invaded surrounding tissue.

In their study report the researchers describe how they found two main effects from reducing

cancer cells' ability to make myoferlin: one affected behavior of the cells, and the other their

mechanical properties.

It appears that without myoferlin, many genes required to help cells migrate (metastasize)

don't get switched on, so they behave more like cells that stay put.

And without myoferlin, the cells can't alter the mechanical properties that make it possible

for them to travel and invade.

Instead, they stay huddled together in the primary tumor.

Findings open door to possible new individualized treatments

These and other findings mean it may be possible to develop breast cancer treatment tailored

to an individual's need - depending on the protein levels and mechanical properties of their breast

cancer cells.

Senior author Douglas Kniss, professor of obstetrics and gynecology at OSU's Wexner Medical

Center, explains how their discoveries may be useful:

"Theoretically, if a patient had a tumor in which the myoferlin level was low, it would be

defined as small and a surgeon could remove it and it wouldn't metastasize. That's the nodule

type of tumor we saw in the mice with the silenced protein."

Although it will be years before diagnostic tools and treatments based on these findings are

available in the clinic, the researchers say they pave the way to more in-depth studies of these

two effects in cancer cells.

For their study, the researchers used triple-negative breast cancer cells. This is one of the

deadliest forms of cancer because it has a high chance of spreading.

Prof. Kniss says they don't know if this means their findings about myoferlin are only true

of the most dangerous types of cancer. This is one of the many things they need to find out.

The study is important not just because of the discovery surrounding myoferlin, but also

because it highlights the important role the mechanical properties of cancer cells play in their

ability to migrate. This opens another area to investigate further - could cancer cell

mechanical properties be used as a diagnostic marker?

Funds from the National Science Foundation and the Ohio State University Perinatal Research

and Development Fund helped finance the research.

Medical News Today recently learned of another investigation led by the University

of Manchester in the UK that suggests dense breast tissue drives early

stages of cancer. An international team of researchers used a bioinformatics approach to

identify signaling pathways that appear to make dense breast tissue more favorable for tumor

formation.

Written by Catharine Paddock PhD




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