健康英语新闻:Singapore scientists find genes key to treat aggressive breast cancer

SINGAPORE, Sept. 7 (Xinhua) -- Singapore scientists have found possible new ways to treat a type of aggressive breast cancer that is unresponsive to current forms of treatment, local broadcaster Channel NewsAsia reported on Wednesday.

The team of scientists at the Genome Institute of Singapore ( GIS) and National University of Singapore (NUS), led by GIS senior group leader Qiang Yu, found that the enzyme EZH2 acts by inhibiting genes that stop the growth of tumors in the body.

The insights could open the door to developing more effective treatment for fast spreading breast cancers, especially the estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer that is common all over the world.

It was also found that through EZH2, cancer is promoted in the body by activating specific genes that impact breast cancer progression and cancer stem cell self-renewal.

Yu said the new understanding on how EZH2 works as a cancer- causing gene in breast cancer has important therapeutic implication.

"The results suggest that small molecule drugs that block enzyme activity of EZH2 may not work for cancers caused by EZH2's activation genes," Yu said.

Currently pharmaceutical companies have been developing drugs only to the block EZH2 enzyme activity so that tumor suppressers can perform their protective role in blocking cancer growth.

Researchers said the next step would be to develop biomarkers to identify tumors with EZH2.

This step would enable better treatment methods, with one of options being the development of therapies that shut down EZH2 completely and not just inhibit its enzymatic function.

The findings have been published on the journal Molecular Cell.