'Vital breakthrough' could stop spread of breast cancer

Published on Monday 21 February 2011 18:09

BLOCKING a key chemical can stop breast cancer, which kills thousands of women in the UK each year, from spreading to other organs, experts have discovered.

Scientists at the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) have found, for the first time, that a particular enzyme is involved in the spread of tumour cells from the breast to other parts of the body.

The chemical, lysyl oxidase-like 2 (LOXL2), has also been linked to the progression of other types of the disease, including colon and oesophageal cancer.

In research published today experts say that if they can successfully block the action of LOXL2 then treatments could be developed to stop the spread of breast cancer.

About 47,000 new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed in the UK each year and around 12,000 people die from the disease.

Recent studies have shown that the lifetime risk of the disease for women is now one in eight.

In the latest study, published in the journal Cancer Research, experts found LOXL2 promotes the spread of breast cancer through the way it controls two proteins, TIMP1 and MMP9.

Scientists found that blocking LOXL2 decreased the spread of breast cancer to the lungs, liver and bone.

According to Dr Janine Erler, lead researcher, from the ICR, more than 90 per cent of cancer deaths are because the disease has spread to other organs.

"Our study shows that inhibiting the action of LOXL2 can significantly reduce the spread of breast cancer, suggesting that drugs which block this enzyme may be effective in preventing patients' cancer from spreading," she said.

Researchers also found that high levels of LOXL2 are linked with more aggressive cancer, which results in a poor prognosis for patients.

Holly Barker, postdoctoral fellow on the study, said: "This raises the possibility that we could develop a test to measure LOXL2 levels and predict patients who will develop aggressive disease.

"This knowledge could help us tailor treatment type and intensity to individual patients."

The study was carried out using laboratory tests, so further research is needed to confirm the findings.

Arlene Wilkie, director of research and policy at Breast Cancer Campaign, which funded the study with the ICR and Cancer Research UK, said: "By using LOXL2 to predict whose cancer will spread and drugs to block the enzyme to stop this from happening, many more lives could be saved."

Margaret Watt, chairwoman of the Scotland Patients' Association, described the findings as a "vital breakthrough".

However, she added: "It is all very well doing the research but the end product in the form of accessible drugs and treatment must reach all those patients who require treatment.

"While many people donate their own cash to charities tackling cancer we would advocate that funding for cancer treatment is 'ring fenced' by the government."There is little point in paying tax to pay for the NHS only to be denied treatment of vital drugs when the time comes when you need treatment.

"Proper funding for cancer research would reduce the number of cancer cases meaning less financial outlay for the NHS."

The enzyme LOXL2 is involved in spreading tumour cells from the breast to other parts of the body.

LOXL2 is also linked to the progression of other types of the disease including colon and oesophageal cancer.

The latest study shows that blocking LOXL2 decreased the spread of breast cancer to the lungs, liver and bone.