Researchers Discover Drug To Inhibit Metastasis In Breast Cancer Patients

Researchers at University of Cardiff are developing a new drug that helps cut malignant breast cancer cells.

Researchers at the University of Cardiff have recently come up with a new drug that reverses the spread of breast cancer cells.

Metastatis occurs very fast in later stages of breast cancer. This happens when secondary tumors affect healthy organs in the body.

The researchers identified the gene BC13, which plays a pivotal role in metastasis. They also discovered a way to block the gene.  " We showed that suppressing this gene reduced the spread of cancer by more than 80%," said Dr Richard Clarkson, the lead author of the study in a press release.

"Our next goal was to then find a way to suppress Bcl3 pharmacologically. Despite great improvements in therapy of early stage breast cancer, the current therapeutic options for patients with late stage metastatic disease are limited," he added.

Dr. Clarkson paired up with Dr Andrea Brancale and Dr Andrew Westwell from the Cardiff University School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences to come up with a chemical inhibitor for BC13.

With computer aided modeling, the researchers identified the surface characteristics of the gene. After testing a series of virtual compounds the researchers zeroed in on the compound that inhibited the growth of the gene.

The compound was further tested on mice. "These results (on mice) seen in the laboratory are very encouraging and if they can be reproduced in clinical trials it would have major clinical benefits for many breast cancer patients," Dr. Clarkson said, reports The Guardian.

Besides gene mutations and environmental factors, unhealthy lifestyle also aggravates the chances of breast cancer. The drug discovered is expected to benefit 1.03 million breast cancer patients around the world.