Medical expert of the article
New publications
Drug resistance in breast cancer is caused by the action of a protein
Last reviewed: 02.07.2025
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
Hundreds of people die every year as a result of cancer cells becoming resistant to drugs. However, a new discovery by Susan Lindquist could change the situation dramatically. Her research group, in the course of experiments, identified a protein that contributes to the development of resistance of breast cancer to hormonal therapy. This is the so-called heat shock protein, which has been discussed in scientific circles for quite a long time. For example, it is known that this protein HSP90 reduces the effectiveness of drugs against fungi and is involved in the development of resistance of Aspergillus fumigatus and Candida albicans fungi to drugs.
Moreover, if drugs that suppress the work of the HSP90 protein are used in combination with drug antifungal therapy, the effect of treatment will be much higher.
Now Susan Lindquist's group is talking about the protein's ability to influence the process of cancer treatment. The specialists conducted several studies on laboratory animals and cell cultures. As a result, it was possible to establish that even small doses of substances that inhibit the work of HSP90 make it possible to resist the development of cancer resistance to hormonal treatment.
After experiments, specialists proposed a combination of protein inhibitors and hormonal drugs for the most effective treatment of cancer tumors.
Currently, specialists are preparing for clinical trials using the hormonal drug fulvestrand and the protein inhibitor genetespib.
Breast cancer is the most common type of oncology among women. In a research laboratory at the University of Washington, a group of scientists has developed a cancer vaccine that will help fight breast cancer. As experts note, the vaccine is safe in case of metastasis. The drug activates white blood cells and makes them destroy cancer cells, which ultimately stops the development of the cancer process.
The new drug works by destroying the protein mammaglobin-a, which breast tissue affected by cancer cells produces in huge quantities, while healthy tissue in other parts of the body does not contain this protein at all.
Vaccination causes immune cells to act only on those cells where the concentration of this protein reaches high levels. As a result, the drug acts selectively and has fewer side effects.
It is worth noting that the vaccine is effective only in cases where the mammaglobin-a protein is produced during the cancer process.
The new drug was tested by specialists on 14 volunteers (women diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer). During testing, the vaccine could provoke side effects, in particular, irritation, rash, and symptoms resembling a cold or flu. In half of the cases, the progression of the cancer process stopped within 12 months after the drug was administered. At this stage, scientists are planning trials involving a larger number of people and volunteers with recently diagnosed breast cancer.
[ 1 ], [ 2 ], [ 3 ], [ 4 ], [ 5 ], [ 6 ], [ 7 ], [ 8 ], [ 9 ], [ 10 ], [ 11 ]