CARDIFF, Wales, Jan. 18 (UPI) -- Scientists in Wales may have uncovered why certain patients develop resistance to tamoxifen treatments for breast cancer.

Tenovus Centre for Cancer Research experts at Cardiff University found that blocking a certain protein found in breast cancer may avoid or turn around resistance to the drug tamoxifen, The Western Mail reported Friday.

Tamoxifen has been a leading drug for breast cancer treatment since it was developed, but has shown decreased success in some patients who gain resistance to it over time.

"We have previously shown that when breast cancer cells become resistant to medicines such as tamoxifen in the laboratory they become more aggressive with an invasive behavior. These are characteristics that can be promoted by Src, a protein which we have recently shown to be more active in tamoxifen-resistant than tamoxifen-sensitive breast cancer cells," Cardiff University Doctor, Stephen Hiscox said.

A material called AZD0530 has been found in the recent study by Tenovus and AstraZeneca experts, to diminish destructive cell behaviors and make them more susceptible to tamoxifen treatment.

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