New BC Cancer Agency research

New research at the BC Cancer Agency may help find ways to identify and shut down stem cells that act as cancer ‘factories’ to produce breast tumour cells.

Published today in the journal Cell Stem Cell, the study by BC Cancer Agency researchers identifies a comprehensive collection of genes that appear in normal breast stem cells. This breakthrough is a result of a unique collaborative effort involving three BC Cancer Agency labs – the Genome Sciences Centre, the Molecular Oncology and Breast Cancer Program, and the Terry Fox Laboratory.

This is important information, says lead author Dr. Afshin Raouf. By recognizing the genes in a normal breast stem cell and understanding how they work, we can now determine how changes in the function of those genes can create a cancer stem cell.

“We need this information to figure out what can go wrong to create a cancer stem cell,” says Dr. Raouf. “Then, we can be smarter and more specific about treatment. Instead of bombarding a patient with chemotherapy, we can target a few specific gene products.”

Previous studies have shown that breast cancer, like leukemia, is maintained by a cancer stem cell population. If you eliminate the stem cell, explains Dr. Connie Eaves, director of the BC Cancer Agency’s Terry Fox Lab and senior author on the paper, we can stop a tumour from growing or returning. “Now we will apply what we have learned from normal stem cells to the isolation and study of breast cancer stem cells.”

This research was funded by grants from Genome BC/Genome Canada, the Stem Cell Network, the BC/Yukon Region of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. Core support for research at the BC Cancer Agency is provided by the BC Cancer Foundation.

The BC Cancer Agency, an agency of the Provincial Health Services Authority, is committed to reducing the incidence of cancer, reducing the mortality from cancer, and improving the quality of life of those living with cancer. It provides a comprehensive cancer control program for the people of British Columbia by working with community partners to deliver a range of oncology services, including prevention, early detection, diagnosis and treatment, research, education, supportive care, rehabilitation and palliative care. The BC Cancer Foundation raises funds to support research and enhancements to patient care at the BC Cancer Agency.

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For more information, please contact:

Jinny Wu
Communications Specialist
BC Cancer Agency
Tel: 604.877.6272
Pgr: 604.806.2338
Toll-free: 1.800.663.3333, ex 6272
jwu2@bccancer.bc.ca