A development on a new drug that is targeted to beat breast cancer is taking place. In a mouse model done by researchers from the Imperial College London, the protein used caused tumors to shrink. Scientists are looking for ways to achieve this effect with women who have breast cancer.

Breast Cancer affects 46,000 women in the UK a year. The most common breast tumor contains estrogen receptors. Anti-estrogen drugs can be given, yet eventually patients develop a tolerance for the drug which loses its effectiveness. Scientists are looking at ways to avoid this.

Researchers are attempting to find a way to mimic a mouse model which blocked the protein called LMTK3 and reduced the size of the breast tumor. Women who have a higher level of LMTK3 are expected to live less than women who do not. They were also less likely to positively respond to hormone therapy. The levels of LMTK3 all depend on the genetic coding of a person.

Justin Stebbing, from the Department of Surgery and Cancer at Imperial College London, is hoping that anti-estrogen drugs can allow women to live longer. He expects new drug treatments that are safe for patients will not be ready however, until the next five to six years.