A recent study provides insight suggesting that sodium channel blockers might be a hopeful treatment option for breast cancer patients, particularly in preventing cancer spread during the interval from diagnosis to surgery.
This groundbreaking research on live tissue cells is the first to demonstrate how sodium channels facilitate the growth and spread of breast cancer tumors.
The findings support the idea that using sodium channel blockers could be an effective treatment for breast cancer, especially during the waiting period between diagnosis and surgery.
A collaborative research team from the universities of York, Cambridge, Nottingham, Aberdeen, Imperial College London, and the Institute of Cancer Research in London examined tissue samples from over 1,500 breast cancer patients sourced from the charity Breast Cancer Now’s tissue bank.
Sodium currents were identified in the cells of patients with triple-negative breast cancer, an aggressive and challenging variant lacking three critical targets for current treatments.
Further investigation is required to ascertain the effectiveness of sodium channel-targeting treatments in breast cancer tumors. Previous research by the same team indicated that sodium blockers have proven effective in mice, and they are now eager to initiate a clinical trial.
Each year, approximately 55,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer in the UK. While many respond well to treatment, around 11,500 succumb to the disease.
Dr. Will Brackenbury, the study’s lead author from the University of York’s Department of Biology, remarked: “Currently, sodium blockers are employed for conditions like epilepsy and in dental procedures, suggesting that an existing medication with a solid safety record could potentially be repurposed for breast cancer patients awaiting surgery.
“In light of increasing delays in treatment access, options like this could provide more time for future patients.
“For all types of solid tumors, the main reason for poor outcomes is often due to metastasis, where cancer cells affect other organs such as the brain, lungs, or bones. Our research offers vital new understanding of how sodium channels contribute to this process in breast cancer cells.”
The researchers found that “Nav1.5” sodium channels, located in the cell membrane, trigger a series of cellular processes that enable cancer cells to escape from the tumor.
As sodium enters the cell through these channels, a pump known as NKA heightens its activity to expel sodium, much like removing water from a sinking ship. This process is energy-intensive, powered by glycolysis, which is the breakdown of glucose.
Besides supplying energy, this mechanism generates lactic acid, released alongside sodium, leading to a more acidic environment around the cell. This acidity boosts the activity of enzymes that can break down the extracellular matrix, the supportive structure surrounding cells, ultimately allowing cancer cells more room to spread and detach from the tumor.
Since the sodium channel instigates this critical process, the researchers propose that blocking these channels could effectively hinder cancer cell growth and prevent their spread in breast cancer patients.
This research is also notable as the first large-scale study confirming that solid breast cancer tumors with elevated levels of the Nav1.5 channel have a higher likelihood of metastasizing. Further research is necessary to understand why certain tumors exhibit higher levels of this protein.
Dr. Simon Vincent, director of research, support, and advocacy at Breast Cancer Now, which mainly funded the study, stated: “This intriguing study highlights the critical role of the Nav1.5 protein in facilitating the spread of breast cancer cells, representing a potential new treatment approach to halt the disease’s progression between diagnosis and surgery.”
“Approximately 61,000 individuals in the UK are living with secondary breast cancer, where the disease has spread to other areas of the body. While it can be managed, secondary breast cancer is currently not curable.”
“Although further research is necessary, the idea of using already safe medications to mitigate breast cancer spread remains a promising concept, and we are eager to see future developments.”
Dr. Brackenbury added: “There is still a lot to uncover and numerous questions remain, such as why some tumors produce more Nav1.5 protein and whether different types of sodium channels exist in various cancer cells.
“Cancer cells often present mysteries, but our study has revealed a key component of this elaborate system.”
