Our scientists have identified a key factor driving the spread of oestrogen receptor (ER) positive breast cancer to the brain. They hope this could eventually lead to new, better treatments for people affected by this type of secondary breast cancer.
RET’s role in the spread of cancer
A protein called RET plays a key role in the spread of ER-positive breast cancer to the brain, according to new research, published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
The study, led by Walk the Walk Fellow Damir Varešlija and Professor Leonie Young, found that RET helps cancer cells stick to brain tissue, survive, and grow. And that it works together with another protein called EGFR to help these cancer cells spread to the brain.
New treatment avenues for secondary breast cancer
Up to 30% of people whose breast cancer has spread will develop tumours in the brain. Because of their location, these tumours are particularly hard to treat and have a huge impact on people’s quality of life.
Damir and Leonie at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland wanted to investigate if targeting RET would affect cancer cells in the brain.
They found that targeting RET using specific inhibitor drugs significantly reduced the survival and spread of breast cancer cells in the brains of mice. This suggests RET inhibitors could be a new treatment avenue for people with this type of secondary breast cancer.
The team also noticed that high levels of RET are linked to worse outcomes in people with ER+ breast cancer. This means that this protein could potentially be used to identify people whose cancer is more likely to spread.
Next Steps
The team hope that in the future, clinical trials will test how well RET inhibitors work in people with secondary breast cancer in the brain. As treatment options are currently limited, better treatments could extend lives and improve the quality of life for people living with secondary breast cancer in the brain.
Up to 30% of people with secondary breast cancer will develop tumours in the brain, and this discovery opens up new avenues for treating this. By targeting RET, we can potentially disrupt the cancer cells' ability to colonise the brain, offering hope for better management of this aggressive disease.
Ben Atkinson
Head of research communications and engagement at Breast Cancer Now
The study was funded by Breast Cancer Now, Breast Cancer Ireland, Science Foundation Ireland, Irish Cancer Society and Epilepsy UK. Breast Cancer Now thanks Walk the Walk for making Dr Varešlija’s research possible.
Help fund our research
Damir is just one of many scientists we fund hoping to improve life for people with secondary breast cancer. To help us continue this work and help people affected by incurable breast cancer, please consider donating.