In this study, the researchers found miR-101 is significantly underexpressed in a variety of cancers, including prostate and breast cancer. Essentially, the researchers believe that miR-101 suppresses the EZH2 protein. When miR-101 is lost in cancer, EZH2 expression is uncontrolled, and that haywire in-gene expression leads to more aggressive cancer growth.

“Bone metastases are one of the most common causes of pain for cancer patients,” said Dr. King Li, chair of the department of radiology at The Methodist Hospital and principal investigator for the trial. “Unfortunately, current treatments to relieve this intense pain are very limited.”

Current painkilling or palliative treatment includes invasive surgery that many late-stage cancer patients cannot tolerate, radiation that damages more tissue than necessary, or nerve ablation. In this study, MRI technology is used to visualize the patient’s anatomy and then aims focused ultrasound waves at the targeted tissue, using low-level heat to ablate, or destroy it, reducing or eliminating the pain. This new method of using MRI-focused ultrasound may provide a completely non-invasive way to relieve pain, Li said.

In earlier clinical studies performed in Europe, the majority of patients reported pain relief within days of treatment.

Today, the median survival for MBC is more like 36 months. In fact, a fortunate few may live up to 10 years or more.