Anti-osteoporosis drugs can inhibit breast cancer

Researchers have found a drug for osteoporosis that can prevent the growth of breast cancer cells. Currently, they are learning about the potential of this drug to offer new treatments for women at high risk of breast cancer.

The US National Cancer Institute has listed measures to prevent breast cancer such as surgery (risk reduction) or taking medicines, chemicals, and supplements to prevent it. A new study shows that there may be another way - that is to use osteoporosis drugs (denosumab ) to inhibit the effects of mutated genes.

"We are interested in finding a method that does not require surgery," Emma Nolan of Walter and the Eliza Hall Institute in Melbourne told The Guardian.

The name of this medicine is denosumab . It can be used to treat breast cancer patients with mutated BRCA1 genes. One kind of gene that movie star Angelia Jolie estimated if the gene is mutated, the woman will have an 87% risk of breast cancer and 50% of ovarian cancer.

In a healthy state, BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes produce tumor-suppressing proteins, which help repair DNA damage and ensure cell genetic stability. However, if these genes are mutated and do not function properly, they can produce faulty proteins and will not repair DNA damage.

This makes the new cells produce mutations, so women easily get breast cancer and ovarian cancer."More than half of women with BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations will develop breast cancer at age 70," according to a report by The Guardian.

If a woman is diagnosed as positive for mutations, there are a number of measures to reduce the risk of developing cancer. However, many people do not detect it early for effective treatment.

Women with BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations will be susceptible to breast cancer.(Photo: Guschenkova / Shutterstock.com).

Nolan and colleagues analyzed breast tissue from a mutated BRCA1 woman and found a group of mutated cells that grew very quickly, seemingly the precursors to cancer. breast.

Inside the cells, the team discovered a protein called RANK receptor (which is the signal for breast cells as they grow), especially during pregnancy and menstruation. If this protein is removed, the breast cells will divide uncontrollably, leading to breast cancer.

It was the team's findings that prompted scientists to test a new treatment. There is an interesting fact that RANK receptor proteins appear in denosumab osteoporosis drugs to treat patients with osteoporosis, or in patients whose breast cancer has spread to the bone.

When the team tested mice with developed breast cancer cells and isolated breast tissue, the researchers found that denosumab osteoporosis drugs could prevent or delay the growth of tumors.

"We are delighted with these findings because it means we have found a strategy that may be helpful to prevent breast cancer in women, especially those with mutated BRCA1 genes." Geoff Lindeman, a medical specialist at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, said.

The team made the results cautiously because when they replicated in practice, used on the human body - instead of mice or isolated breast tissue - they would have many differences. A large clinical study on this issue is underway with many volunteers and is expected to expand in two years.

A London-based research group reported earlier this year that they had reduced breast cancer tumors in just 11 days by combining drugs and a "nano-ball" silicon . They believe that the cure is 50%. Let's hope that clinical trials will give us more positive information.