Belgian scientists find way to suppress spread of breast cancer

A team of scientists at the Flemish life sciences research institute VIB and the University of Leuven, led by Professor Peter Carmeliet, have demonstrated that reducing the expression of the cellular PHD2 oxygen sensor impedes the spread of breast cancers to other parts of the body.

Breast cancer is the second biggest cause of cancer death among women, mainly because of this spread, known as metastasis, for which there is currently no efficient therapy. The new study also showed that, contrary to earlier notions, genetically blocking PHD2 expression does not promote tumour growth and is therefore a safe therapeutic approach.

Blocking the PHD2 oxygen sensor reduces the spread of breast cancer in two ways. “Firstly, it helps blood vessels in tumours to return to their normal, stronger state, reducing the opportunity for cancer cells to escape through the vessel wall,” explained Carmeliet (pictured). “Secondly, it stops cancer cells from hijacking neighbouring activated fibroblast cells and instructing them to build highways of connective support tissue that the cancer cells can use to migrate into other areas of the body.”

The study results, published in the medical journal Cell Reports, open the door to further studies exploring the therapeutic potential of PHD2 suppression in treating human breast cancer.

Photo © KU Leuven/Rob Stevens