Scientists at the MUHC have made an important discovery that will advance our understanding of how the female hormone estrogen causes growth of breast cancer cells. The research, in collaboration with scientists at the Institut de Recherches Cliniques de Montreal (IRCM) identifies 153 genes that respond to estrogen and one in particular that can be used to halt the growth of breast cancer cells. The study, published in today’s Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), will focus future research for a breast cancer cure. “We have known for a very long time that estrogen causes the growth of breast cancer cells,” says lead investigator Dr. Vincent Giguère. “This is how oncologists came to use anti-estrogen as drugs to combat the most common forms of breast cancer.” What has remained a mystery however, is the molecular mechanism by which estrogen makes breast cancer cells grow. “Until this is solved, we will be no closer to figuring out how to prevent and cure breast cancer,” Dr. Giguère noted.
