About Careers MedBlog Contact us
Medindia LOGIN REGISTER
Advertisement

Breast Cancer Drug Approval is Offering Hope for Treatment

by Vani Pradeep on December 6, 2014 at 12:50 PM
Font : A-A+

Breast Cancer Drug Approval is Offering Hope for Treatment

The number of male blood cancer patients clearly out-numbers that of females. However, it is not yet clear why this is the case. A study published by Cell Press December 4th in Cell Stem Cell provides an explanation, revealing that female sex hormones called estrogens regulate the survival, proliferation, and self-renewal of stem cells that give rise to blood cancers. Moreover, findings in mice with blood neoplasms - the excessive production of certain blood cells - suggest that a drug called tamoxifen, which targets estrogen receptors and is approved for the treatment of breast cancer, may also be a valuable strategy for blocking the development of blood neoplasms in humans.

"Our study demonstrates that targeting estrogen signaling with a clinically approved drug, at doses with an acceptable toxicity profile in humans, provides a novel potential therapeutic strategy for a set of neoplasms currently without a definitive cure," said senior study author Simón Méndez-Ferrer of the National Center for Cardiovascular Research (CNIC) in Madrid, Spain.

Advertisement

Myeloproliferative neoplasms cause large numbers of abnormal white blood cells to be produced and enter the bloodstream, potentially causing life-threatening symptoms. These diseases can lead to cancer and arise from blood cells called hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs), which give rise to all of the other blood cells. Leukemia and other blood cancers are more common in men than in women, strongly suggesting that sex hormones such as estrogens contribute to the development of these malignancies. But until now, it has not been clear whether estrogen signaling could directly control normal and cancerous HSPCs.

In the new study, Simón Méndez-Ferrer and Abel Sanchez-Aguilera of CNIC found that HSPCs express estrogen receptors, and activation of these receptors with tamoxifen affected the survival, proliferation, and self-renewal of these cells. In mice with a genetic mutation associated with blood neoplasms, tamoxifen treatment blocked the excessive production of blood cells by restoring normal levels of programmed cell death in mutant cells. Moreover, tamoxifen enhanced the effects of conventional chemotherapy on cancerous cells in a mouse model of leukemia.
Advertisement

"Our results suggest that tamoxifen, at a similar dose used for the treatment of other diseases, might be useful to treat myeloproliferative neoplasms at various stages, without being toxic to normal blood cells," Simón Méndez-Ferrer says. "The fact that this drug is FDA-approved, readily available and sufficiently safe facilitates the potential translation of our results from the bench to the bedside."



Source: Eurekalert
Advertisement

Advertisement
Advertisement

Recommended Reading

Latest Cancer News

Link Between Gut Microbiome and Precancerous Colon Polyps Identified
Comprehending the association between the gut microbiome and polyp growth sheds insights into potential screenings and treatments.
 Analyzing Paediatric Brain Tumours Provide Data for Cancer Research
The first large-scale, collaborative, open analysis of genomic data provides a cloud-based resource for researchers looking for more comprehensive data on pediatric brain tumors.
Cancer Drugs to be Tested in Orbit During American Private Astronaut Mission
The mission of Axiom Space incorporated numerous experiments focusing on human stem cell aging, inflammation, and cancer within the laboratory situated in the low Earth orbit.
 Hydrogen Sulfide Makes Cancer Cells More Sensitive to Photothermal Therapy
Providing a sustained supply of hydrogen sulfide to cancer cells, could be a remodeling strategy to improve photothermal therapy efficacy while minimizing side effects.
Hidden Influence of Gut Microbiome on Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer
Colon cancer's hidden link revealed in microbiome study.
View All
This site uses cookies to deliver our services.By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Cookie Policy, Privacy Policy, and our Terms of Use  Ok, Got it. Close
×

Breast Cancer Drug Approval is Offering Hope for Treatment Personalised Printable Document (PDF)

Please complete this form and we'll send you a personalised information that is requested

You may use this for your own reference or forward it to your friends.

Please use the information prudently. If you are not a medical doctor please remember to consult your healthcare provider as this information is not a substitute for professional advice.

Name *

Email Address *

Country *

Areas of Interests