Two Enzymes Linked to Breast Tumor Metastasis

Cancer researchers have identified two enzymes that are critically linked to the ability of breast tumors to metastasize and spread into the bone.

"More than 70% of late stage breast cancer patients have skeletal complications," explained senior author Dr. Yibin Kang, professor of molecular biology at Princeton University (Princeton, NJ, USA). "It is important to uncover the molecular mechanism of bone metastasis in order to come up with better treatments to reduce the pain and suffering from bone metastasis."

Towards this end the research team at Princeton University reported in the July 16, 2009, online edition of the journal Genes and Development that they had identified two specific matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) enzymes that were important contributors to the molecular process that released tumor cells into bone tissue. The two enzymes, MMP1 (matrix metalloproteinase-1) and ADAMTS1 (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs) are normally involved in the breakdown of extracellular matrix in normal physiological processes, such as embryonic development, reproduction, and tissue remodeling. They have also been linked to disease states such as arthritis and metastasis.

By confirming that elevated MMP1 and ADAMTS1 expression was associated with increased risk of bone metastasis in breast cancer patients, this study marked them as promising therapeutic targets for inhibiting bone metastasis of breast cancer.

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