A mineral found in Brazil nuts could hold the key to halting the spread of breast cancer, a study has revealed. Selenium performs crucial functions in the body and helps stave off chronic conditions.
But scientists found that starving triple negative breast cancer cells of this antioxidant could kill them. Experts now hope the findings could lead to a treatment that interferes with the uptake of selenium in the body.
Researcher Dr Saverio Tardito, who led the study at the Cancer Research UK Scotland Institute in Glasgow, said: “If we can find a treatment that interferes with the uptake of this mineral by triple negative breast cancer cells, we could potentially prevent this cancer spreading to other parts of the body.
“It is not usually breast cancer itself that proves fatal as it can often be tackled successfully with treatment or surgery, it is when the cancer spreads that it proves harder to control. With triple negative breast cancer having fewer treatments to control it, finding a new way to prevent it spreading could be life-saving.”
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Dr Sam Godfrey, Cancer Research UK’s science engagement lead, said: “Outcomes for patients with triple negative breast cancer can be worse than for other types of cancer. Research like this could be the key to preventing this type of cancer spreading, and that would have a transformative effect on how this disease is treated.
“We are delighted to fund innovative research which can lead to fascinating discoveries. These discoveries are the building blocks on which the future treatments are made and could prove crucial in giving hope to those who are affected by this and other forms of cancer.”
Brazil nut breakthrough gives Scots mum hope
A Scots mum who discovered aged 27 that she had a genetic fault threatening her with breast cancer, welcomed the research. Lisa Bancroft chose surgery to remove her breasts and, now aged 32, remains cancer free.
Lisa, from Dunfermline, said: “Research like this, which potentially gives people with triple negative breast cancer more treatment options, offers so much hope. Medical science is making huge leaps forward. The research that uncovered the potentially catastrophic implications of carrying a faulty BRCA gene all those years ago, has changed the course of my life.
“I only discovered I had an increased risk of developing cancer because my aunt and my dad were diagnosed with the disease and, because of that, they received genetic testing.”
Lisa’s dad and her aunt both died from cancer, her aunt from triple negative breast cancer. At the time of the surgery, Lisa’s daughter was just two and her future is very much in her thoughts.
Lisa said: “When she is old enough, my daughter Emma will also have to decide whether to go for genetic testing to find out if she is affected. There’s a 50 per cent chance she isn’t carrying a faulty genetic mutation. However, if Emma does have an increased risk of cancer, then I hold great hope that there will be so many more options for her to choose from. Hopefully by then, it won’t be as big a deal as it is now.”
Lisa has co-founded the charity BRCA+ Chat, providing emotional support to people who discover they are carrying the gene mutation.
Around 56,800 people are diagnosed with breast cancer each year in the UK and 15% have the triple negative disease. When cancer cells are clustered together, a type of fat molecule containing oleic acid protects them from a form of cell death brought on by selenium starvation.
The study looked at the impact of depriving cancer cells of selenium when they are not clustered, such as when they are moving around the body. Interfering with the metabolism of selenium in those cells was found to kill them. The findings were published in journal EMBO Molecular Medicine.
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