Chemo combination kills Breast Cancer stem cells

Two chemotherapy drugs that are ineffective on their own killed breast cancer stem cells when combined to treat rodent and human cancer cells, researchers report in a new study.
The drugs, 5-azacytidine and Butyrate, are often used together with other cancer treatments to reduce recurrence, with researchers at Augusta University finding their efficacy is tied to normalizing gene expression in stem cells expected to turn cancerous and spread beyond the breast.
Researchers at Augusta University have previously shown 5-azacytidine's ability to inhibit DNMT1, which reduces levels of the ISL1 gene, a control mechanism for stem cells and natural tumor suppressor. In the previous study, when DNMT1 was blocked, 80 percent of breast tumors were eliminated.
Butyrate, which is present at high levels in breast milk, blocks the signaling molecules RAD51AP1 and SPC25. The two molecules ordinarily help repair DNA but are often over-expressed in cancer, as well as because of some cancer treatments, enabling and aiding the spread of cancer cells.
The new study suggests getting at stem cells may help doctors more effectively fight cancer, the researchers say. Tamoxifen, prevent recurrence of breast cancer, they said.
The researchers found the combination of drugs affected the ways stem cells make breast cancer, including by preventing the mutations that enable its spread away from the breast. The finding helps understand why the pair can, when used with the chemotherapy
"This combination might need to be considered for all breast cancer patients because their common denominator is cancer stem cells," Thangaraju said.