Scientists at Western University have identified a new therapeutic target for advanced breast cancer which has shown tremendous promise in mouse models. The study led by Lynne-Marie Postovit of Western’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry looked at a protein called Nodal that is primarily found in embryonic or stem cells. Postovit discovered high levels of this protein in aggressive breast cancer tumors. Nodal was found to promote vascularization in the tumor, providing nutrients and oxygen to help it grow and spread. The research is published online in the journal Cancer Research.
