Several studies have already shown that after breast cancer, cancer cells were likely to spread to other parts of the body, causing secondary cancer. It’s in the lungs, lymph nodes but also in the bones (spine, ribs, pelvis, skull) that breast cancer cells most often migrate. But women who have had breast cancer are also 1.55 times more likely to have breast cancer. thyroid cancer.
The researchersBritish National Cancer Institute think they’ve found a protein that might stop breast cancer from spreading. Once activated, this protein called EPHA2 could prevent cancer cells from passing through blood vessels to other parts of the body, especially the bones, liver or lungs.
When cancer cells take control …
During this study, published in the journal Science Signaling, researchers were able to observe how cancer cells interact and exchange information with cells in blood vessels. They noted that they took control of the EPHA2 protein receptor in order to find its way out of the blood vessels. In fact, when this receptor is activated, tumor cells remain inside the blood vessels, but when it is inactive, they can spread throughout the body.
For Dr Claus Jorgensen, who led this research: “The next step is to figure out how to keep the EPHA2 protein receptor energized so that tumor cells cannot leave the blood vessels and thus prevent secondary cancer.”.
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