United Press International
October 20, 2009
WASHINGTON, Oct 20, 2009 (UPI via COMTEX) -- U.S. scientists say drugs being tested for treatment of a variety of allergies, asthma and autoimmune diseases might lead to the development of breast cancer.
Georgetown University Medical Center researchers said some drugs now in clinical trials work by suppressing the activity of a gene called SYK. Because that gene protects people from breast cancer, researchers say its inhibition might inadvertently promote the development of breast tumors.
The scientists said they found the gene and its protein product are crucial for prevention of breast cancer in mice and human breast cells they studied. That research, they said, is the most definitive yet to demonstrate the beneficial function of the SYK protein as a tumor suppressor.
"Years of research has led us to believe that (the protein) is important in breast cancer, but we still need to find out why and when some women lose function," Professor Susette Mueller, who led the study, said. "In the meantime, we can only voice concern that inhibiting the protein may have unfortunate consequences."
The findings are reported in the online journal PLoS One.
URL: www.upi.com
Copyright 2009 by United Press International
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