Prevents Spread Of Breast Cancer

Successful test of an experimental drug that inhibits the spread of breast cancer to other parts of the body, British researchers announced according to findings published in the journal Cancer Research..

Team of researchers from the University of Cardiff in Wales , led by Dr Richard Clarkson of the European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute , developed an active substance that inhibits gene Bc13, which has been found to play a key role in metastatic cancer.

"We have shown that suppressing gene Bc13, we can limit the spread of cancer by over 80 %," says Dr. Clarkson after administration of the active substance in mice resulted in complete inhibition of growth of metastatic tumors.

The next goal of scientists is to find a drug that inhibits gene Bc13. So far , despite major advances in the treatment of breast cancer in its early stages , the existing treatment options for patients with end-stage metastases is limited. Therefore, there is a great need for new drugs to reverse or even slow down the progression of metastatic cancer .

Notably , the vast majority of cancer deaths due to metastases of tumors in other parts of the body of the patient. In breast cancer , metastasis can occur even many years after the initial diagnosis.

The scientific team at Cardiff University , with funding from the pharmaceutical company Tiziana Pharmaceuticals, is preparing to skipped ahead in clinical trials of experimental formulation in humans , although it will take years to obtain the finished medicinal product for commercial use.