Key molecule linked to breast cancer chemotherapy failure discovered

Scientists have discovered a molecule which plays a major role in chemotherapy failure in breast cancer patients, according to research published in the latest issue of Biology of the Cell (January issue).

Press release: Thursday 6 January 2010 Media contact: Sarah Davis, Head of Media Relations, Breast Cancer Campaign, 020 7749 3727, sdavis@breastcancercampaign.org Key molecule linked to breast cancer chemotherapy failure discovered Scientists have discovered a molecule which plays a major role in chemotherapy failure in breast cancer patients, according to research published in the latest issue of Biology of the Cell (January issue). Chemotherapy is a vital part of treatment for many breast cancer patients but in 40 per cent of patients it stops working over time. The consequences are significant as this increases the chance of breast cancer returning. In a landmark laboratory study, Dr Jeremy Blaydes and Dr Charlie Birts at the University of Southampton analysed breast cancer cells taken from patients tumours and discovered that C-terminal binding proteins (CtBPs), which are found in the majority of breast cancers, are vital to keep breast cancer cells alive. But significantly, Drs Blaydes and Birts also found that stopping the cancer cells from making CtBPs makes them more vulnerable to the effects of chemotherapy and therefore easier to destroy. Dr Birts said, “The next stage of our research will be to develop new ‘inhibitor’ drugs that can stop the CtBPs from protecting the cancer cells from the effects of chemotherapy. We have already tested thousands of potential inhibitors and we are working with the Chemistry Department at Southampton University to investigate those drugs with the most promise.” Arlene Wilkie, Director of Research and Policy, Breast Cancer Campaign said, “Failure of chemotherapy is a very real problem for many people treated for breast cancer. If we can find a way to make a CtBP inhibitor that works alongside chemotherapy to make it more effective we could potentially save the lives of many thousands of women.” Ends Notes to editors • “Expression of CtBP family protein isoforms in breast cancer and their role in chemoresistance” by Charles N. Birts, Rachael Harding, Gehan Soosaipillai, Trisha Halder, Ali Azim-Arahgi, Matthew Darley, Ramsey I. Cutress, Adrian C. Bateman and Jeremy P. Blaydes is published in Biology of the Cell (2011), Vol 103, pp. 1-19 (biolcell.org) • Breast Cancer Campaign aims to beat breast cancer by funding innovative world-class research to understand how breast cancer develops, leading to improved diagnosis, treatment, prevention and cure • The charity currently funds 99 projects worth over £17.3 million in 37 locations across the UK and Ireland • Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK and accounts for nearly one in three of all cancers in women • In the UK, nearly 46,000 new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed each year - that’s 125 a day • Visit breastcancercampaign.org or follow us on twitter.com/bccampaign • Biology of the Cell (biolcell.org) is a peer-reviewed journal published by Portland Press Limited on behalf of the Société Française des Microscopies and the Société de Biologie Cellulaire de France. Portland Press Limited is a not-for-profit publisher of journal, books and electronic resources in the cellular and molecular life sciences.