Researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem announced on Sunday a discovery that could have important implications for the treatment of heart failure.
The research, conducted by doctoral candidate Inbal Rachmin, under the supervision of Prof. Ehud Razin and Dr. Sagi Tshori shows that the use of a protein called Erbin acts as a brake against excessive growth of heart muscle, often a precursor to heart failure.
The discovery also has implications for breast cancer treatment, which is often treated with an antibody called Herceptin. Studies have shown that 5-10 percent of breast cancer patients treated with Herceptin together with chemotherapy have a significant decrease in heart function. In contrast, the current research suggests that the use of Erbin could effectively treat some breast cancers while also protecting the heart.