University of Cincinnati studying new approach to attacking breast cancer

A University of Cincinnati researcher has received a $587,000 federal grant to study a new way of attacking breast cancer.

The goal is to develop a breast cancer treatment by indirectly targeting estrogen, as opposed to other drugs on the market that directly target and stop the hormone, according to a statement from the University of Cincinnati (UC).

The grant to Xiaoting Zhang, of UC’s cancer and cell biology department, comes from the U.S. Department of Defense.

Early studies in animal models and cells show the researcher’s approach to estrogen suppression in breast tissue causes minimal disruption to the hormone’s function in other parts of the body. The approach has yet to be tested in humans.

Current anti-estrogen drugs that directly target estrogen can inhibit the hormone in the breast, but also cause collateral damage by disrupting the function of estrogen in the uterus, bone and other tissues, according to the statement.

“It is a truly innovative project with high potential clinical impact,” said UC Provost Santa Ono.