Press Release: First Step of Metastasis Halted in Mice with Breast Cancer (Ewald Lab)

Cell biologists at Johns Hopkins may have found a possible new target in therapy for breast cancer patients, after isolating a breast cancer gene believed to be responsible for the spread of cancer in surrounding tissue. "This is the most exciting time in biology in at least 100 years," Dr. Andrew Ewald told FOX45. He and his team have conducted the research with mice. "What is really dangerous for breast cancer patients is metastasis," Ewald explained, which is the spread of cancer to other parts of the body. But by isolating the gene responsible, the cancer does not spread. "Because this individual gene…is expressed in the cells at the front in every type of breast cancer we've looked at, we think by destroying this gene it will prevent the ability of these tumors to spread," Ewald said. The team has found a way to stop the first part of the process in mice and is ready to move onto the next phase of research; trying to understand how to halt the metastasis in human patients. A summary of their results will be published online in the journal Cell on December 12, 2013.