Molecular validation of novel breast cancer therapeutic target

Under the leadership of Nancy Hynes, scientists from the Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research have identified a potential novel target for breast cancer treatment. The scientists could show that breast cancer patients with high levels of the receptor tyrosine kinase Ret have a worse prognosis; and that blocking Ret not only decreases tumor growth but also impacts the potential of the cancer to spread throughout the body. In recent years, there have been many advances in breast cancer treatment that bring hope to patients. However, breast cancer prognosis is still linked strongly to the type of cancer the patient suffers from. For several breast cancer subtypes powerful therapies exist: hormonal therapies help control tumors that are estrogen or progesterone receptor positive, antibodies against the receptor tyrosine kinase HER2 prolong survival of patients with the HER2 positive subtype. However, between 10-17% of breast cancers, so-called "triple negative" breast cancers, do not express estrogen receptor or HER2 and are not eligible for either therapy. Moreover, most initially treatable breast cancer patients develop resistance and often relapse with metastatic disease.