Drugs could be available to help some women at high risk of breast cancer, British researchers have revealed.
A Manchester University study has centred on women with highly dense breast tissue.
These women are known to be at risk from cancer – and the new research has identified a cellular communication network that lies behind the problem.
The researchers say the JNK1 network has been well studied – and there are drugs that can block its action.
JNK1 is known to play a role in triggering inflammation.
The findings have been reported in the journal Cell Cycle.
The researchers say that diet and lifestyle might play a part in triggering the process.
Researcher Professor Michael Lisanti said: “What no one has fully appreciated before are the underpinning mechanisms at play. Using a bioinformatics approach, we have identified the relevant signalling pathways that make dense breast tissue more favourable for tumour formation.
“This signalling pathway could be used as a biomarker to identify women at higher risk of breast cancer more accurately and earlier than the current methods."
Professor Tony Howell, an expert on the subject at the university, said: “At least 50% of cancer risk is genetic, but activated cell stress signalling could potentially be reduced by dietary or lifestyle intervention.
"This research should help with a cancer prevention strategy, rather than waiting to treat the cancer once it arrives.”
Cell Cycle February 2014
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