A new University of Michigan study suggests a drug used by transplant recipients could also help prevent cancer from returning in breast cancer patients.

Scientists at the U-M Comprehensive Cancer Center identified CXCR1, a receptor in breast cancer stem cells that triggers the growth of more stem cells in response to inflammation and tissue damage.

The study says cancer stem cells, which fuel a tumor’s growth, are believed to be resistant to chemotherapy and radiation treatments.

But the cancer treatments cause tissue damage and inflammation, thereby stimulating further growth of breast cancer stem cells, according to the study.

“Developing treatments to effectively target the cancer stem cell population is essential for improving outcomes,” Director Dr. Max S. Wicha said in a statement. “This work suggests a new strategy to target cancer stem cells that can be readily translated into the clinic.”

Researchers say the receptor may be the reason breast cancer returns in patients who have undergone chemotherapy and radiation cancer treatments.

Repertaxin, a drug developed to prevent organ transplant recipients from rejecting their new organs, may be the answer.

Scientists found repertaxin blocks CXCR1 and killed breast cancer stem cells in mice. The study found mice treated with a repertaxin or a combination of repertaxin and chemotherapy had dramatically fewer cancer stem cells than those treated with chemotherapy alone. The study also found mice treated with repertaxin developed fewer metastases than those treated with chemotherapy alone.

“These studies suggest that important links between inflammation, tissue damage and breast cancer may be mediated by cancer stem cells,” Wicha said. “Furthermore, anti-inflammatory drugs such as repertaxin may provide a means of blocking these interactions, thereby targeting breast cancer stem cells.”

According to the American Cancer Society, 194,280 Americans will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year, and 40,610 will die from the disease.

Erica Hobbs can be reached at ericahobbs@annarbor.com.