New breast cancer metastasis determinant discovered

Researchers at the University of Kentucky have provided new insight into why the most severe subtype of breast cancer in humans frequently metastasizes. Tumor cells can exploit a cellular program that promotes cell migration and reduces adhesion between cells to spread to distant sites in the body, causeing metastasis. This cellular program, known as the epithelial-mesenchymal transition, is normally involved in wound healing, tissue remodeling and embryonic development. Increasing cell motility requires a decrease in E-cadherin, which functions to promote cell-cell adhesion. Led by Binhua Zhou, the research team identified a molecule called G9a as a major repressor of E-cadherin expression. Their findings establish that G9a is an important determinant of metastasis in the most severe sub-type of breast cancer, and suggest the development of new therapeutics targeting this pathway could potentially disrupt the metastatic disease.