Scientists have discovered a small molecular switch in breast cancer cells that helps them survive stressful conditions. This switch is linked to the acetylation and deacetylation of the MED1 protein, which switches the cells into a mode of stress resistance and faster growth. As a result, cancer cells are able to survive even under adverse conditions. The mechanism is associated with reprogramming of gene activity, which promotes tumor survival and growth. The finding is particularly relevant to ER+ breast cancer, where this switch may be more intensively exploited. The research reveals a new potential target for the treatment of breast cancer and possibly other tumours that use a similar mechanism. The results have been published in the journal Nature Chemical Biology.