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Metastatic Breast Cancer

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The term, metastatic, describes a cancer that has spread to distant organs from the original tumor site. Metastatic breast cancer is the most advanced stage (stage IV) of breast cancer.

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Latest Activity: Mar. 9, 2009

What is Metastatic Breast Cancer?

The term, metastatic, describes a cancer that has spread to distant organs from the original tumor site. Metastatic breast cancer is the most advanced stage (stage IV) of breast cancer. Cancer cells have spread past the breast and axillary (underarm) lymph nodes to other areas of the body where they continue to grow and multiply. Breast cancer has the potential to spread to almost any region of the body. The most common region breast cancer spreads to is the bone, followed by the lung and liver. Treatment of metastatic breast cancer generally focuses on relieving symptoms and extending a woman’s lifetime.

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Possable bone cancer in my rib 3 Replies

Started by Jeri Prentice. Last reply by Jeri Prentice Feb. 18, 2009.

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Comment by Fran Bolle on January 30, 2009 at 10:21am: Hi Robert,
I just received the following information this am from Susan Komen.

Metastasis Gene Discovered by Komen-Funded Research
DALLAS – January 6, 2009 – A single gene that appears to play a crucial role in aggressive breast cancers by both increasing the ability of the cancer to spread and making it resistant to chemotherapy has been discovered by a team of researchers funded, in part, by a Susan G. Komen for the Cure® research grant.

Scientist detect gene that appears to be involved in more than a third of all breast cancers
Scientists used innovative approaches that combine sophisticated new tests and traditional experimental techniques to detect the gene called MTDH, which appears to be involved in more than a third of all breast cancers. Not only did these researchers identify the gene, they were able to show how this gene helps tumors spread. Now they believe drugs could be developed that block the gene -- keeping local tumors from metastasizing or spreading.

This is significant because 98 percent of patients with breast cancer that has not spread beyond the breast live five years or more, while only 27 percent of patients whose cancer has spread to other organs survive five years.

The important discovery was reported in the January 6 issue of Cancer Cell by Yibin Kang, Ph.D., of Princeton University, and colleagues. Komen for the Cure provided Kang with a two-year $250,000 grant in 2005.

Nearly $53 million devoted to research metastatic disease
In the past four years alone, Komen has devoted nearly $53 million to research answering questions critical to understanding metastatic disease, according to Marianne Alciati, Ph.D., managing executive director of Komen’s scientific operations. Since its founding 27 years ago, Susan G. Komen for the Cure has contributed more than $1.2 billion to scientific research and community programs.

“Not only is this an important step toward understanding how certain breast cancer metastasizes, but it’s a wonderful example of the impact of Komen’s research funding,” said Diana Rowden, Komen’s vice president of Health Sciences.

"This gives us a real shot at developing a drug that will inhibit metastasis," said Michael Reiss, M.D., of The Cancer Institute of New Jersey, who was part of the team that discovered the gene.

Kang said he hopes his team’s discovery will lead to drugs that not only keep breast cancer from spreading, but also make it more responsive to treatment.

"If we have a drug to inhibit this type of gene, one stone hits two birds," Kang said.

Thought it was good inforation to share.