New research into breast cancer dormancy aims to prevent recurrence

Thanks to advances in research, more people than ever are living well after a breast cancer diagnosis. But for some people, tumours can come back in another part of the body, sometimes many years or even decades later.

This is because some breast cancer cells can remain inactive in organs such as the lungs or bones, before waking up and forming secondary tumours.

We still don’t fully understand how these dormant cells survive for so long or what causes them to reactivate. By investing in more research, we hope to find ways to prevent breast cancer recurrence and make sure more people live well for longer. 

The Patricia Swannell dormancy and late recurrence research funding programme is dedicated to tackling breast cancer dormancy and recurrence. It was made possible by the Patricia Swannell Appeal for secondary breast cancer and the generosity of its supporters.

Patricia Swannell was determined to drive change for people affected by secondary breast cancer. Her inspiring dedication in the final months of her life led to nearly £1 million to fund 2 innovative research projects aiming to tackle breast cancer dormancy.

The first project, led by Professor Penelope Ottewell at the University of Sheffield, is investigating dormant breast cancer cells in the bone—the most common site for these cells to settle.

Bone tissue is rich in nutrients, which can provide an ideal environment for dormant cancer cells to survive. Research suggests that breast cancer cells may spread to the bone even before a primary tumour is detectable, making early intervention challenging.

Professor Ottewell’s team is exploring a new gene therapy-based approach to prevent breast cancer recurrence. By specifically targeting dormant cancer cells in the bone, she hopes to stop these cells from reawakening and spreading to other organs, without damaging any healthy cells in the process.

The second project, led by Dr Frances Turrell at the University of Manchester, focuses on how dormant cancer cells interact with immune cells called macrophages in the lung.

Frances’ previous research showed that changes in the lung—such as ageing or damage—can trigger dormant cells to become active again. She’s now investigating if communication with macrophages in the lung plays a role in the survival and reawakening of dormant cancer cells

By uncovering the role of macrophages in reawakening dormant cells, Frances and her team hope to identify new ways to prevent recurrence.