New Treatment Plan for Triple Negative Breast Cancer

Researchers at The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine have discovered that a biological pathway that can be modulated in human triple-negative breast cancer cells to inhibit proliferation.   Approximately 15 to 20% of all breast cancers are designated as triple-negative meaning that the cancer cells lack estrogen and progesterone receptors, and do not overexpress human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER-2), thereby limiting responsiveness to approved therapy.   One in eight women in the U.S. will develop invasive breast cancer,  and more than 39,000 deaths occur annually.
The researchers recently demonstrates that exposure of human breast cancer cell lines to OGF in vitro repressed growth within 24 hours in a receptor-mediated and reversible manner.  Treatment with low dosages of the opioid antagonist, LDN, provoked a compensatory elevation in endogenous opioids, OGF; and receptors that interact for 18-20 hours daily following receptor blockade to elicit a robust inhibition of cell proliferation.   OGF is an endogenous neuropeptide and there are minimal or no side effects.  The mechanism of action for OGF is upregulation of the p21 cyclin-dependent inhibitory kinase pathway that delays passage through the cell cycle.  OGF also confers some level of protection against paclitaxel treatment, a standard breast cancer therapy.
A dosage of 10-8 milograms of paclitaxel given alone caused marked apoptosis, but resulted in 60% less cell death when given in the presence of OGF. In patients, paclitaxel often is accompanied by side effects that reduce compliance.
This discovery provides preclinical evidence for a new, safe, and effective therapy for breast cancer patients, especially for those with limited therapeutic approaches other than surgery.   Women with triple-negative breast cancer have few options because their tumors lack the necessary hormonal receptors.   Data from these studies may open new doors for treatment of this population of women. Moreover, the OGF-OGFr axis is present in all types of breast cancer cells suggesting that this pathway provides additional avenues for treatment of this commonly diagnosed cancer.
This research has been ongoing for 3 decades as the researchers have attempted to find an effective alternative for treatment of breast cancer.