U.S. researchers have identified three genes which are linked to the spread of breast cancer to the brain. The study has been published in the journal Nature. This could be path breaking finding that can lead to new treatments to stop the spread of breast cancer to the brain.

Breast cancer victims often have a brain and lung relapse even after tumour has been successfully removed. Previously scientists had identified two genes COX2 and HB-EGF which were involved in the spread of cancer to lungs. Now researchers have identified that these two genes and a third gene ST6GALNAC5 which is more active in brain tissues may be responsible for the fatal metastasis.

The study was conducted by Cancer Biology and Genetics Program at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York and Howard Hughes Medical Institute. The researchers hope that this would lead to new treatment possibilities and drugs could be used to target interactions between cancer cells and these three genes. This is indeed good news for millions of breast cancer patients.

Via Health