SCIENTISTS

have identified a protein that helps determine whether metastatic breast cancer is likely to recur.

The researchers found that when breast cancer spreads to the bone, patients with low levels of the protein NR2F1 had a worse prognosis. Patients with a higher concentration lived longer.

It’s thought NR2F1 means the cancer cells are more likely to lie dormant. The findings suggest patients with low NR2F1 levels could be given extra treatment to prevent a recurrence, reports Breast Cancer Research.