MUSC researchers develop dual-drug strategy for triple-negative breast cancer

Researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) Hollings Cancer Center have identified a potential new method to combat resistance in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). In a study published in Cell Reports Medicine, a team led by Ozgur Sahin, PhD, discovered that the protein lysyl oxidase (LOX) plays an unexpected role in the survival of TNBC cells.

The researchers developed a ‘one-two-punch’ strategy to target these aggressive tumors. By first blocking LOX, they weaken the cancer cells and disrupt their internal processes. This creates a vulnerability that allows a second drug to block the backup survival pathway the cells attempt to use.

In preclinical models, this dual-drug combination significantly inhibited tumor growth without the use of chemotherapy. This approach is particularly notable because TNBC lacks the three common targets used to treat other breast cancers, often leaving chemotherapy as the primary but side-effect-heavy option. The new method aims to close the escape routes that typically allow chemoresistant tumors to survive.