A New Development of Clinically Animal Model for Breast Cancer May Open Up For a Novel Treatment

The scientists from Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne created an animal model for estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. This may lead to a discovery of new treatments and therapies for those who are diagnosed with breast cancer. The model was also tested in human heart tissue in a pre-clinical environment.

According to Medical News Today, the study was published in Cancer Cell. The researchers discovered that mouse's milk vessels are significant for the biological growth of estrogen receptor-positive breast tumors. The scholars inoculated cells from an estrogen receptor into the mouse's milk vessels. The result is promising as it improves the survival rate of the tumor cells for the first time.

"With this breakthrough, breast cancer disease, progression and metastasis, now become amenable to study," George Sflomos, one of the lead authors of the study said. "We can now study crucial factors, such as the action of hormones and molecular responses to therapies, for the first time in a relevant context."

"But more importantly," Sflomos continued. "This model opens up new opportunities not only for the development but also for the evaluation of breast cancer therapies."

WebMD states that breast cancer is one of the main causes of death in women. It's second in rank to lung cancer. There are about 1 in 8 women that may develop breast cancer. And about 231,840 women were diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in 2015. And 40,290 are going to die from the said condition, according to the American Cancer Society.

The sign of breast cancer is often a lump underarm or in the breast. And there is swelling in the armpit. It is usually painless. Other signs include the indentation on the breast and nipple retraction, itching or ulceration or burning sensation. The treatment for breast cancer includes radiation therapy, surgery, hormone therapy, chemotherapy and targeted therapy.