How breast cancer cells damage bones

Some scientists have found that some breast cancer cells can turn off a signal that causes the immune system to attack them. 

Switching off the interferon immune signal lets the cancer cells secretly spread to secondary sites, most commonly the bones. 

We have discovered a mask that breast cancer cells put on, allowing them to hide and spread to bone, thriving undetected, said the scientists.

Researchers hope that existing interferon therapies could be used to "unmask" the cancer cells. 

Researchers said once the cells were detectable and open to attacks from the immune system, they could contain them to the breast and stop them forming secondary tumours. 

There are already interferon treatments for hepatitis, skin cancer and HIV, but they have not been tried in breast cancer patients. 

If they can stop the first spread to bone, then it is possible that we could prevent subsequent metastases  to the brain, lung and liver the researchers feel. 

Researchers said interferon responses were critical in protecting people from infection.