Health security

Breast cancer could be 'stopped in its tracks' by new technique, say scientists

Certain breast cancers spread to the bones using an enzyme that drills “seed holes” for planting new tumours, research has shown. The discovery could lead to treatments aimed at preventing secondary breast cancers in patients with non-hormone sensitive disease. The enzyme lysyl oxidase (Lox) is released from the primary tumour in the breast. Scientists found that it produces holes in bone that provide fertile ground for the growth of spreading, or metastatic, cancer cells.