Protein identified that may enable breast cancer

New research from UC Davis Cancer Center shows that a protein called Muc4 may enable breast cancer to spread to other organs and resist therapeutic treatment. Kermit Carraway, an associate professor of biochemistry and molecular medicine, is senior author of the study, which was published in the April 1 issue of Cancer Research. The results suggest that Muc4 somehow disrupts normal links between epithelial cells, from which breast-cancer cells are derived. 'We now need to refine our understanding of this disruption process in order to find ways to interfere with it," said UC Davis graduate student Heather Workman, lead author of the study. "There currently are no drugs that target Muc4, and this research will help change that."