Targeting microRNAs could unmask hidden vulnerability in breast cancer stem cells

(Rockefeller University Press) Researchers in Italy have identified a pair of microRNA molecules that help maintain a population of cancerous stem cells that drive the growth of breast cancers and initiate tumor relapse after treatment. The study, which will be published April 2 in the Journal of Cell Biology (JCB), reveals that targeting these microRNAs makes cancer stem cells more susceptible to some chemotherapies and could potentially improve the prognosis of patients with aggressive forms of breast cancer.
Source: EurekAlert! - Biology - Category: Biology Source Type: news