Protein identified as key in metastasis
Researchers may have identified a way to prevent metastasis in people who have breast cancer, they have announced.
Most women would not die from breast cancer if scientists could find a way to prevent it moving to other organs, according to scientists at the University of North Carolina.
While more study is needed, they said they have identified a protein that seems to be a key player in cancer's ability to spread - which women with breast cancer insurance will be aware is called metastasis.
The team, led by Carol Otey, reduced the ability of breast cancer cells to migrate to other parts of the body by minimising levels of palladin.
In addition, they found higher levels of palladin in four invasive breast cancer cell lines, compared to four non-invasive cell lines.
"Now that we see palladin is expressed mostly in invasive cells, it raises the question as to whether it might be useful as a prognostic marker," Ms Otey said.
She added: "Maybe someday doctors could test for the presence of palladin to identify patients who have the most aggressive tumours."
Metastasis occurs when cancer cells break away from the primary tumour and enter the bloodstream.
Areas of the body commonly affected by breast cancer metastasis are the bones, lungs, liver and brain. 
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