Breast cancer mimics brain development process

A key element in the development of the nervous system may also play a pivotal role in the spread of breast cancer say researchers from the University of York. Voltage-gated sodium cells (VGSCs) are found in the membranes of excitable cells such a neurons where they are involved in transmission of electrical impulses. Researchers have also found that they assist the metastasis of cancerous tumours. Using clinical breast cancer samples from the Breast Cancer Campaign Tissue Bank and preclinical laboratory modelling, researcher discovered that sodium channel ?-1 is present at high levels in breast cancer samples compared with normal tissue. As detailed in International Journal of Cancer, the researchers have shown for the first time that an increase in ?-1 protein levels causes tumours to grow faster. ?-1 also plays a significant role in enabling the cells to change shape, move and metastasise. The heteromic protein regulates adhesion and migration and its overexpression leads to increased vascularisation and reduced apoptosis in primary tumours. “While there is no cure for metastasis, blocking the sodium channel inhibits migration and invasiveness and it may therefore be a viable therapeutic target,” said Dr Will Brackenbury, a Medical Research Council Fellow in the Department of Biology. “What is most exciting is that the mechanism by which ?-1 regulates migration appears to replicate what it does it the central nervous system. As well as regulating electrical activity in neurons, ?-1 also regulates the migration of neurons during brain development and the breast cancer signalling mechanism seems to be the same.” Brackenbury, who led the research, said that a process important in the development of the nervous system is being co-opted to play an insidious role in tumour development. “The Breast Cancer Campaign Tissue Bank is vital for enabling researchers to use good quality tissue samples in their research,” said Baroness Delyth Morgan, Chief Executive at Breast Cancer Campaign. “Dr Brakenbury’s findings demonstrate how the Tissue Bank is helping drive forward research and new discoveries into what could be causing breast cancer to spread.” The sodium channel ?-1 subunit mediates outgrowth of neurite-like processed on breast cancer cells and promotes tumour growth and metastasis