New therapy for Triple-negative Breast Cancer shows promise

Recent laboratory findings provide novel insight into potential new therapeutic approaches for triple-negative breast cancer, a particularly difficult to treat and aggressive form of the disease.
Scientists from Van Andel Research Institute (VARI) and Wayne State University demonstrated in preclinical experiments that the drug cabozantinib inhibits growth of several triple-negative breast cancer subtypes. In preclinical experiments, the team demonstrated that cabozantinib impedes triple-negative breast cancer progression and spread by inhibiting the MET protein. Graveel and Sloane's laboratories used unique cancer models that include both breast cancer cells and the connective tissue cells that often support cancer growth. Their findings not only provide evidence for cabozantinib's therapeutic potential for triple-negative breast cancer, but also imply that MET plays a crucial role in growth and invasion by triple-negative cancer cells.