LEBANON, N.H. (WCAX) – A phase two trial led by the Dartmouth Cancer Center is focusing on how excess copper in the body could contribute to breast cancer.
Copper is an important element for our bodies, but researchers at Dartmouth Health are trying to determine if too much copper causes cancer to spread.
“We are so excited about this we can’t wait to get started,” said Linda Vahdat, deputy director of the Dartmouth Cancer Center. She’s also a practicing oncologist who is looking for answers as to why breast cancer can reoccur out of the blue. “Sometimes patients could have their breast cancer undetectable for decades and then all of a sudden, it comes back.”
Her research finds that it could be due to the excess copper we consume. Copper is naturally occurring in shellfish, certain leafy greens, and nuts, among other foods. “When you think about normal nerve function, you need copper. You need copper for normal blood cell production,” Vahdat said. But she says what the body doesn’t use, it stores, and that is potentially a problem. “We take in copper, we utilize some of it, and some of it we put it into a pool, we save it for later.” A pool that can help cancer cells grow.
The clinical trial is exploring whether a copper depletion compound, tetrathiomolybdate, is successful at keeping more people with reoccurring breast cancer, cancer cancer-free. Vahdat says the first trial showed promising results. Seven sites across the country are taking part in the research. The upcoming trial–which will track 186 patients–could take up to five years.
“And then we are going to compare to see, does that copper depletion added to standard treatment, you know, decrease the risk of relapse and make people live longer, and what are the side effects,” Vahdat said.
The researchers are looking for patients to take part in the trial.