A small molecule called ErSO kills 95-100 percent of breast cancer cells, as well as their metastases throughout the body.

A team of scientists from the US have developed a new cancer treatment method that is capable of destroying up to 100% of breast tumor cells. 

The results of the study were published in the journal Science Translational Medicine. 

Experts from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have created ErSO, a drug that fights both primary tumors and metastases. 

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ErSO activity depends on the estrogen receptor found in most breast tumors. Experiments on mice have shown that the drug is well tolerated even in large doses. 

Within a few days after the start of therapy, cancer cells were reduced by an average of more than 99%.

The uniqueness of the method lies in the fact that it has no side effects and remains effective even with repeated treatment.

“Even when a few breast cancer cells do survive, enabling tumors to regrow over several months, the tumors that regrow remain completely sensitive to retreatment with ErSO,” explained U. of I. biochemistry professor David Shapiro, lead author of the study.

“It is striking that ErSO caused the rapid destruction of most lung, bone and liver metastases and dramatic shrinkage of brain metastases, since tumors that have spread to other sites in the body are responsible for most breast cancer deaths,” Shapiro said.

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“This anticipatory UPR is estrogen-receptor dependent,” said chemistry professor Paul Hergenrother.

“The unique thing about this compound is that it doesn’t touch cells that lack the estrogen receptor, and it doesn’t affect healthy cells – whether or not they have an estrogen receptor. But it’s super-potent against estrogen-receptor-positive cancer cells.”

“Many of these breast cancers shrink by more than 99% in just three days,” Shapiro said.

“ErSO is fast-acting and its effects on breast cancers in mice are large and dramatic.”

In the future, ErSO is planning to test it on humans. 

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Scientists also intend to find out if it works against other types of cancer.

Image Credit: Getty