Scientists are looking closely at a protein called PCSK9 to see how it affects breast cancer. In early laboratory tests, this protein appeared to help cancer cells grow faster and move more easily through the body. These findings suggest that PCSK9 might play a role in how tumors develop and spread to other areas.
While the laboratory results are consistent, the results from actual patients are not as clear. Different studies have shown different outcomes when looking at how much of this protein is in a patient's system. Because of these mixed results, doctors cannot yet say for certain how much this protein affects a patient's long-term outlook.
Because of the clear role it plays in lab tests, some experts believe PCSK9 could be a useful target for new treatments. It might also help doctors identify certain types of cancer more accurately. However, more research is needed to see how it affects real patients and to confirm its use in daily medical care.
