ADELAIDE, Australia / RankWire.AI / – Australian scientists have discovered a molecular switch that controls the dissemination of highly aggressive tumors, unveiling a new therapeutic strategy to prevent secondary cancers. Published in EMBO Molecular Medicine, research conducted by Adelaide University and the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute showed that restoring the function of a critical regulatory molecule called miR-342 significantly decreases tumor metastasis. The research highlights an innovative approach to combat triple-negative breast cancer by targeting dormant cancer cells before they form life-threatening lesions in distant organs.
Triple-negative breast cancer, which accounts for 10% to 15% of approximately 21,000 breast cancer diagnoses in Australia annually, causes a disproportionate share of cancer-related deaths. This subtype is characterized by the absence of estrogen, progesterone, and HER2 receptors, making conventional hormone-based treatments ineffective. The lead researchers demonstrated that a decrease in miR-342 levels leads to the overactivation of a cancer-promoting pathway called E2F, enabling dormant cancer cells to spread and develop into dangerous secondary tumors throughout the body.
Targeted Treatment Strategies Present New Opportunities to Prevent High-Risk Metastasis
In pre-clinical experiments, scientists found that increasing miR-342 levels notably reduced the spread of cancer cells to distant organs. Additionally, they discovered that palbociclib, a CDK4/6 inhibitor already approved for hormone receptor-positive breast cancers, effectively slowed metastatic tumor growth in models exhibiting low miR-342 expression. These results suggest that assessing miR-342 levels could enable clinicians to repurpose existing drugs for treating patients at high risk of metastasis.
Associate Professor Philip Gregory, co-senior author from Adelaide University’s Centre for Cancer Biology, emphasized that preventing metastasis remains the biggest challenge in treating aggressive breast cancers. Gregory explained that because palbociclib targets the hyperactive E2F pathway, giving the drug after cancer cells have spread prevents microscopic deposits from expanding. This therapy shifts the focus from merely shrinking primary tumors to stopping microscopic secondary cancers from developing into life-threatening conditions.
Peer-Reviewed Preclinical Research Published in EMBO Molecular Medicine
The research team highlighted that the biological diversity of triple-negative breast cancer has historically complicated the development of universal targeted treatments. By identifying a specific vulnerability common to a subset of patients, the study paves the way for personalized treatment options. As Australian scientists develop a promising new approach to address triple-negative breast cancer, efforts are underway to validate these findings in patient-derived models ahead of clinical trials.
Cancer specialists and research institutions across Australia welcomed the findings, stressing the urgent need for additional treatment options when standard therapies are ineffective. The team intends to work with international clinical networks to accelerate biomarker screening processes. Confirming the reliability of miR-342 testing could soon enable healthcare providers to identify suitable candidates for targeted CDK4/6 inhibitor treatments early in the disease course.