UK – A group of researchers from Cancer Research UK found a drug that can reduce the spread of more aggressive type of breast cancer. This study has been published in the journal Oncogene.

The compound known as JQ1 alters the response of cancer cells to hypoxia or lack of oxygen, a process that is present in over 50% of tumors and is more common in triple negative breast cancers, which is difficult to treat.

Scientists from the universities of Oxford and Nottingham (central England) concluded in their study that the JQ1 causes the cancerous tissue stop adapting to the lack of oxygen, which slows their development.

Co-author of the research, Alan McIntyre, said that “the treatment of hypoxia sometimes compromises the treatment of breast cancer and JQ1 can be the key to helping patients with this disease.”

When this type of tumor is used to the low oxygen levels, their biology is altered and become resistant to common therapies. This is the reason why this new drug could change the way to fight this cancer, according to researchers.

From Cancer Research UK, Nell Barrie said that “the study shows how this drug works” and that “could be a way to stop the spread of cancer,” but notes that now they must examine “the effectiveness of JQ1 on patients”