Study: Blocking Key Protein May Help Prevent Spread of Breast Cancer

British researchers report that blocking a "Pied Piper" protein that attracts breast cancer cells could help prevent the spread of the disease to other parts of the body.

Reporting in the Journal of Cell Biology, the researchers said they found that that breast cancer cells are attracted to a naturally occurring protein called uPA.

When the action of this protein was blocked with certain antibodies, the cells stopped moving.

The importance of this discovery lies in the fact that when malignant cells are confined to the breast, the illness is far less likely to be fatal.

"Preventing the spread of breast cancer is key to removing its fatality," said Professor Clare Isacke of the Breakthrough Breast Cancer Research Centre in London.

"Now that we have a crucial understanding of how cells move in particular directions, we have the potential to identify new methods to diagnose, prevent and treat the spread of breast cancers," Isacke said.

Other Sources: Journal of Cell Biology