A team of scientists from the US and the UK have shown that blocking an enzyme called lysyl oxidase (LOX) that causes tissue to stiffen reduces the likelihood of abnormal but non-malignant breast tissue turning into tumors, suggesting that LOX and similar enzymes could be new targets for effective anti-cancer drug therapies.

The study was the work of co-author Dr Janine Erler from The Institute of Cancer Research in the UK and colleagues and was published online in the journal Cell on 19 November.

Erler said in a press statement that their findings show that stiffening of breast tissue under the control of LOX and similar enzymes is a key factor in the development of cancer.

Evidence from previous studies by Erler and colleagues had already shown that LOX was important in cancer spread or metastasis, because it sends out signals that helps ready other body sites for invasion. With this new study they can add another role to the enzyme: it is also important for progression of the tumor itself.

They found that blocking the enzyme reduced the chances of tumors forming, and increased the likelihood that when they did develop, they were smaller and less aggressive.

"The enzyme triggers a clear physical change in breast tissue and, if we could stop this happening, we expect it would slow the growth of any cancers that did develop and make them easier to eradicate," said Erler…