The majority of breast cancer deaths are linked to its metastatic spread to distant organs, but therapeutic options remain limited for certain types of aggressive breast cancer that frequently metastasize. A new study led by Pawel Mazur, Ph.D., identified the lysine methyltransferase SMYD2 as a critical regular of breast cancer metastasis.
The SMYD2 enzyme acts by modifying other proteins that can induce changes in the cellular cytoskeleton. In preclinical models, inhibiting SMYD2 activity increased overall survival by blocking the primary tumor cell’s ability to metastasize. This makes SMYD2 a promising target for novel therapeutics to prevent the metastatic progression of malignant breast cancer.