Targeting the outbreaking dormant tumor cells

We recently demonstrated that Lysyl oxidase like2 (LOXL2) enzyme expression in disseminated dormant tumor cells promoted their acquisition of cancer stem cell (CSC)-like phenotype driving their transition to metastatic outgrowth. This stem-like phenotype was dependent on epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) that was driven by the tumor microenvironment. Furthermore, we demonstrated that breast cancer patients with increased LOXL2 expression have a higher risk to develop recurrence of the disease, and increase in LOXL2 expression is associated with increase in EMT/CSC like markers (Weidenfeld K et al Oncotarget 2016, Weidenfeld Kand Barkan D, Frontiers in Oncology). Taken together our results suggest that determining LOXL2 expression levels may serve as a good prognostic marker for the relapse free survival of breast cancer patients. This may pave the way for new therapeutic strategies targeting cellular LOXL2 as means to prevent and treat metastatic recurrence of breast cancer disease. We are currently exploring also the microenvironmental cues that can promote LOXL2 expression in the residing dormant tumor cells.

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