"Taking samples from brain tumors resulting from breast cancer, Jandial and his team found that the breast cancer cells were exploiting the brain's most abundant chemical as a fuel source. This chemical, GABA, is a neurotransmitter used for communication between neurons.
When compared to cells from nonmetastatic breast cancer, the metastasized cells expressed a receptor for GABA, as well as for a protein that draws the transmitter into cells. This allowed the cancer cells to essentially masquerade as neurons."Breast cancer cells can be cellular chameleons (or masquerade as neurons) and spread to the brain," Jandial said."
BREAST CANCER SPREADS TO BRAIN BY MASQUERADING AS NEURONS, STUDY FINDS
http://www.cityofhope.org/blog/breas...s-brain-tumors