New drug could be a cure for breast cancer

Researchers from the University of Adelaide stated that the new drug they have developed could be a groundbreaking option for women with triple-negative breast cancer.

Dr. Theresa Hickey, who took part in the research, said: "Currently, there is no treatment that specifically targets this type of breast cancer; it can be said that chemotherapy and, in some women, immunotherapy are the only options. The results of this study show that this drug could be the key to increasing survival rates." 

According to statistics, approximately 55,000 women and 400 men are diagnosed with breast cancer in the UK alone each year, and it is stated that 15% of these cases are triple-negative breast cancer.

The reason this type of cancer is called triple-negative is that it lacks three molecules known as the estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and human epidermal growth factor receptor. 

In other types of breast cancer, these receptors send signals to the cancer and can cause it to grow. Most breast cancer treatments generally work by targeting these receptors, which is why triple-negative is often considered the most difficult type to treat.

DRUG WAS DEVELOPED FOR LEUKEMIA

The drug was originally developed to treat acute myeloid leukemia, a type of blood cancer. Researchers tested the drug on mice and in human breast tissues in a laboratory setting. It was found that the drug helps reduce CDK9 in triple-negative breast cancer, which shows its potential in targeting the disease.

Dr. Hickey continued: "Our preclinical study showed that the drug was able to stop tumor cells from proliferating but did not affect normal cells in breast tissue taken from patients.

News Source: Taner Bildik