The role of metallothionein in breast cancer

Abstract

Metallothioneins (MTs) are a family of small cysteine-rich proteins involved in many physiological and pathological processes. Genes that encode the four isoforms of metallothioneins (MT1-M4) are located on chromosome 16q13. Strucutures of these four isoforms allow metallothioneins their various biological functions. Many studies have shown that MT plays an important role in carcinogenesis, tumour growth, its progression from local to metastatic disease and may contribute to resistence to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Due to the fact that breast cancer is one of the leading causes of death in women worldwide it is important to better understand the biology of breast cancer. So, findings of MT could evenutally help as a prognostic tool and could lead to a possible new specific anti-cancer treatment.