Researchers at A*STAR’s Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS) have identified potential targets for therapeutic drugs against aggressive breast cancer.
Working in collaboration with local and international institutions, GIS scientists led by Dr Qiang Yu discovered that a protein tyrosine phosphatase, called UBASH3B, is overexpressed in one third of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients.
Unlike other types of breast cancers, TNBC currently has not effective therapy.
In a mouse model, researchers found that UBASH3B was responsible of controling the activity of a key breast cancer gene, which if deleted can significantly reduce TNBC cell growth and lung metastasis.
Furthermore, it was also identified that TNBC tumour patients with high levels of UBASH3B demonstrate early recurrence and metastasis.
Dr Yu noted that targeting UBASH3B not only inhibits TNBC invasive growth, but also significantly reduces metastasis.
Tan Tock Seng Hospital consultant surgeon, a collaborator and co-author of the study Dr Tan Ern Yu said, "Further validation will show whether UBASH3B can be developed into a means of identifying these high-risk patients as well as a new form of treatment."
