Scientists identify enzyme to prevent bone metastasis

JohnSmith

Scientists identify key to preventing secondary cancers

Scientists have identified a possible key to preventing secondary cancers in breast cancer patients, after discovering an enzyme which enhances the spread of bone metastasis.
The new research, conducted at The Institute of Cancer Research (London, UK) found that the enzyme LysYl Oxidase (LOX) released from the primary tumor causes holes in bone and prepares the bone for the future arrival of cancer cells.
The findings suggest that identifying LOX in ER negative breast cancer patients early, could allow doctors to block the enzyme's activity, halting disease progression.
The researchers also showed that treatment with Bisphosphonate [ Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisphosphonate ], an existing class of drug which prevents the loss of bone mass and is already used to treat diseases such as Osteoporosis, was able to prevent the changes in the bone and the spread of the disease in mice.

mary625

Does anyone know why this article seems to be specific to ER negative bc? Does this LOX thing not exist in the ER positive?

Hope I got on the bisphosphonate soon enough. It only required a trip across country..

MomMom

My MO started Zometa infusions twice a year 4 months PFC. Happy she did! Supposed to do this for 2 years to help prevent bone mets

Kathy044

The news report from the Guardian article that I posted on the other thread mentions that the Lox enzyme that drills holes is only produced by non estrogen sensitive cancers so the fact that bisphosphates can help these cancers to prevent bone mets is additional information to what we already know about using bisphosphates etc to help prevent bone mets.

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/may/28/breast-cancer-scientists-enzyme-spread-bisphosphonates.

Kathy