Study Uncovers Protein That Predicts Breast Cancer Prognosis

Researchers have uncovered a protein that helps in predicting breast cancer prognosis, lowering the risk of undergoing painful therapies.

Over the last three decades, the incidence of advanced breast cancer among young women worldwide has dramatically increased. Breast cancer survival is based on early detection. The latest finding published in the Journal Molecular and Cellular Biology, insures successful treatment for those who are at a high risk of the disease as it has uncovered a key protein that helps in predicting breast cancer prognosis.

 "The analysis pipeline that we developed will be useful for stratification of breast cancer patients," Elizaveta V. Benevolenskaya of the University of Illinois at Chicago, a researcher on the study, said in a news release.  

EZH2 is an enzyme that controls some 1200 genes and the levels of the expressions of these genes determines the aggressiveness of the cancer, according to the researchers.

For this study, the researchers produced breast cancer cells in which they could reduce expression of EZH2 with the help of RNA inhibition. They noticed that restraining EZH2 expression reactivated the genes that were under its direct control that in turn led to less aggressive cancer phenotypes.

"Stratification will enable clinicians to accurately predict breast cancer progression. The level of expression of a subgroup of EZH2-bound genes could have further predictive value, indicating, for example, that a specific treatment regime is needed," Elizaveta added.

Apart from this, say researchers, small molecules inhibitors of EZH2 could be developed to produce therapeutic drugs to treat breast cancer. The manufacturing rate of these small molecules is less and they can be easily consumed orally.