Researchers discover a possible reason for drug resistance in breast tumors

(INM -Leibniz Insitute for New Materials) Amplified levels of HER2 membrane proteins drive unrestricted cell growth in certain types of breast cancer. HER2-tailored antibody-based therapeutics aim to prevent cancer cell growth. However, two-thirds of the patients develop resistance against such therapeutics. Why, is not yet understood. Researchers now found out that HER2 dimers appeared to be absent from a small sub-population of resting SKBR3 breast cancer cells. This subpopulation may have sel...