ROSTOV-ON-DON, RUSSIA - FEBRUARY 11, 2020: Breast oncologist Yelena Chernikova examines a patient's ... [+] scan at the Rostov-on-Don Research Institute of Oncology. Valery Matytsin/TASS (Photo by Valery MatytsinTASS via Getty Images)

Researchers at Tulane University School of Medicine are celebrating a breakthrough in the fight against an aggressive breast cancer.

Theyve identified a gene that causes an aggressive form of breast cancer to rapidly grow. And most importantly, theyve found a way to flip the switch and turn the gene off to prevent cancer from occurring.

They say their studies on mice are so compelling they are seeking FDA approval to begin clinical trials.

Dr. Reza Izadpanah and his team examined the role two genes play (including one they discovered) in causing triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), which is considered the most aggressive type of breast cancer.

They specifically identified an inhibitor of the TRAF3IP2 gene, which they found suppressed the growth and spread of TNBC in mouse models that closely resemble humans.

In parallel studies, they examined how TRAF3IP2 and another gene called RAB27a play roles in the secretion of substances that can cause tumor formation.

They found that suppressing the expression of either gene led to a decline in tumor growth and spread of cancer to other organs.

When Rab27a was suppressed, the tumor didnt grow but it continued to spread a small number of cancer cells to other parts of the body. But when researchers turned off the TRAF3IP2 gene, they found no spread (metastasis) of the original tumor cells for a full year following treatment.

In addition, they say inhibiting the TRAF3IP2 gene not only stopped future tumor growth, but caused existing tumors to shrink to undetectable levels.

Dr. Izadpanah says Our findings show that both genes play a role in breast cancer growth and metastasis. This exciting discovery has revealed that TRAF3IP2 can play a role as a novel therapeutic target in breast cancer treatment.

Other researchers, such as Dr. Bysani Chandrasekar of the University of Missouri, have joined in the Tulane research efforts and found that targeting TRAF3IP2 can stop the spread of glioblastoma, a deadly brain cancer.

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Scientists Find A Switch To Turn Off A Gene That Causes Aggressive Breast Cancer - Forbes