Chinese scientist have found that a common abortion drug can have an anti-tumour effect in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), the most malignant subtype of breast cancer.
Liu Rong of the Kunming Institute of Zoology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences said Mifepristone (MIF) suppresses tumour growth of TNBC cells in mice and reduces the number of TNBC cancer stem cells by reducing KLF5, a protein that promotes proliferation and survival of cancer cells.
MIF suppresses cancer stem cells by causing a micro RNA molecule to suppress KLF5, Liu said.
"Our findings may provide new therapeutic strategies for the treatment of TNBC," Liu said, state-run Xinhua news agency reported today.
TNBC refers to any breast cancer that does not express the genes for estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor or Her2/neu. This makes it more difficult to treat since most chemotherapies target one of the three receptors, so triple-negative cancers often require combination therapies.
