Researchers Uncover Promising Therapeutic Option for Metaplastic Breast Cancer

Researchers seeking more effective treatment for metaplastic breast cancer have uncovered two inhibitor drugs that show potential in slowing disease progression. The findings were published in Nature.

Metaplastic breast cancer is a rare and aggressive form of breast cancer that typically grows faster and is more likely to metastasize. Moreover, metaplastic breast cancer often fails to respond to the same therapies used in patients with triple negative breast cancer.

In this study, researchers from Houston Methodist and a team of researchers from across the country assessed the biology of metaplastic breast cancer compared to non-metaplastic triple negative breast cancer. Their findings showed that metaplastic breast cancers typically exhibit two unique signaling pathways in their cell interaction. Based on these results, researchers were able to disrupt these two pathways using a class of inhibitors typically used to treat advanced cancers – phosphoinositide 3 kinase inhibitor (PI3K) – in combination with a nitric oxide inhibitor (NOS). The researchers noted that when introduced to the cell, these two drugs disrupted these pathways, making the treatment more effective.

“This is a significant finding because it offers a promising therapeutic option for one of the most aggressive and difficult-to-treat subtypes of breast cancer,” said Dr. Jenny Chang, the executive vice president, president and CEO, and chief academic officer at the Houston Methodist Academic Institute via a press release. “We have the potential to improve outcomes for patients who currently face limited treatment options and poor prognoses, marking an important step forward in cancer research and therapy.”

The first author, Dr. Tejaswini Reddy, hopes these findings will help develop a specific care plan for metaplastic cancer patients and enhance long-term survival. “Our findings highlight a promising therapeutic combination that could hopefully change the landscape of metaplastic breast cancer treatment. Translating this research into a National Cancer Institute-funded clinical trial is crucial to improving outcomes for patients facing this rare and aggressive disease. Moreover, this approach may have broader implications, potentially benefiting patients with other cancers with similar biology.”