A single protein may play a dual role in the progression of an aggressive form of breast cancer, according to researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine. The protein appears to help the cancer spread to the brain while also allowing it to escape the body's immune defenses.
The findings, reported by Medical Xpress, point to a potential mechanism linking metastasis and immune evasion in the same molecule. The researchers identified the protein as a possible contributor to both processes, though the report does not name the protein or detail experimental methods.
Because this is a single source, there are no conflicting reports to compare. The work is described as an identification of a protein that "may help" spread and evasion, indicating that further research would be needed to confirm its role and explore therapeutic implications.