Osteoporosis Drug Could Also Treat Breast Cancer, says a Study

As per a new study that appeared in the journal Nature, the drug used to treat the bone disease osteoporosis could also prove effective for women suffering with breast cancer.

The study was carried out by a crew of international researches, including those from University College London. The findings include that the drug denosumab taken by the osteoporosis patients also dampens the risk of tumors in women, who either take hormone replacement therapy or the contraceptive Pill.

Even in the previous studies, it has been shown that sex hormones known as progestins found in hormone replacement therapy and contraceptives can pose a threat to breast cancer. In the latest study, the researchers have tried to find out how these hormones affect mammary cells.

The researchers discovered that progestins triggers a protein called RANKL in breast tissue that leads to the multiplication of cancer cells and thus developing tumors. This is the protein which is also responsible for dysfunctioning the bone tissue. In the scenario of high formation of RANKL, the disease osteoporosis erupts.

Another study conducted by researchers at the Californian biotechnology Company Amgen and published in Nature examined the denosumab’s effect in jamming RANKL on mice. They identified that the drug checked the growth of cancer cells in them.

“The RANKL system is an important molecular link between a synthetic sex hormone and breast tumors, one day women may be able to reduce their risk by taking blocking medicines in advance to prevent breast cancer”, said Prof. Josef Penninger, study’s lead author.

Via : topnews