Combined therapy could treat basal-like breast cancer

Several studies have used DNA microarray analysis to identify breast cancer subtypes, including basal-like or triple negative breast cancer. Basal-like breast cancer is more aggressive, generally has a poorer prognosis and is found to be more prevalent in African Americans than in Caucasians. Results of a recent study conducted at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Ontario, and University of North Carolina showed that deleting the sugar transferase called LFNG (its nickname is “lunatic fringe”), could cause cell proliferation and tumor formation of basal-like breast cancers. Deleting LFNG increases the activation of two cellular signaling pathways -- notch signaling (a receptor involved in stem cell differentiation and development) and the expression of the Met oncogene. This discovery could lead to the development of treatment for basal-like tumors by targeting both signaling pathways.