Protein involved with iron metabolism may be marker of aggressive breast cancers

August 5, 2010

Low levels of a protein called ferroportin may be a marker for aggressive breast cancers, according to researchers from the Wake Forest University School of Medicine.

In a study published in Science Translational Medicine, the researchers looked at the gene activity of over 800 women with breast cancer and found that decreased ferroportin, a protein responsible for eliminating iron from cells, was linked with reduced breast cancer survival.  High expression was linked with a better outcome, a 10-year survival of more than 90%.

Research is early, and further studies are needed, but these results suggest the possibility of using ferroportin to determine prognosis and aggressiveness of treatment, suggest the researchers.