Innovative approach claimed to prevent recurrence of breast cancer

Scientists from the Abramson Cancer Center and Penn's Perelman School of Medicine have made a significant stride in breast cancer research. The study, led by principal investigator Angela DeMichele, builds on previous findings that dormant tumor cells can lay in wait in patients after breast cancer treatment, potentially leading to the spread of metastatic breast cancer.

The study, published in Nature Medicine, has shown a way to identify breast cancer survivors who harbor dormant cells that lead to recurrence in real time. This development could potentially lead to the creation of new treatments for preventing breast cancer recurrence in high-risk patients.

Angela DeMichele, the Mariann T. and Robert J. MacDonald Professor in Breast Cancer Research, and her team have found that intervening against dormant tumor cells before they become aggressive and metastatic could be a potential strategy for preventing breast cancer recurrence.

Until now, there has not been a way to identify those breast cancer survivors who harbor the dormant cells that lead to recurrence in real time. Dormant cancer cells do not show up on standard imaging tests used to watch for breast cancer recurrence.

The study does not specify which specific drugs are effective against dormant tumor cells. However, certain drugs that are ineffective against actively growing cancers can be effective against dormant tumor cells, according to the study.

Lewis Chodosh, the chair of cancer biology and senior author of the study, previously led research to identify the pathways that allow dormant tumor cells to survive in patients for decades. This research continues to build on previous findings, highlighting the importance of understanding the biology of dormant tumor cells.

The study's findings indicate that for 30% of those who do relapse, the only option is continuous and indefinite treatment. Breast cancer relapses, or returns after initial treatment, is still incurable. This new breakthrough offers hope for these patients, potentially leading to the development of new treatments and a reduction in the need for continuous and indefinite treatment.

While there is no specific information available about the scientists involved in redeveloping existing drugs for treating dormant cancer cells in breast cancer survivors, research on dormant cancer cells often involves various interdisciplinary teams. Similar strategies may be informing similar research for other cancers, such as Jan Dörr's work on targeting senescent cells in neuroblastoma.

This groundbreaking research could revolutionize the way we approach breast cancer treatment, offering a potential solution for preventing breast cancer recurrence in high-risk patients. The study's findings suggest that the biology of dormant tumor cells is different from that of active cancer cells, opening up a new avenue for cancer research and treatment.