Medical Xpress· Medical Xpress - Cancer·· 18 hours agoPickScore54
Immune mechanism discovery could help predict which early breast cancers will spread
In brief
A McGill University team reports in Cell Reports Medicine that neutrophil elastase released by neutrophils weakens the myoepithelial barrier surrounding ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), allowing some lesions to progress to invasive cancer. The study combined mouse models, human breast tissue samples and 3D tumor models; blocking neutrophils or the enzyme kept the barrier intact, suggesting neutrophil elastase could serve as a biomarker for DCIS progression risk.
Why it matters
The study shows neutrophil elastase weakens the myoepithelial barrier around DCIS, providing a mechanistic basis for risk-stratified treatment.
Source: Medical Xpress · medicalxpress.com