Research is the key to stopping breast cancer in its tracks. This year, our scientists have made incredible progress, uncovering discoveries that could transform treatments and bring us closer to a future where everyone with breast cancer lives, and lives well. In this article, we share some of the biggest achievements of the year and what they mean for people affected by breast cancer.
A new immunotherapy to stop cancer from spreading
In February, Professor Clare Isacke and Dr Frances Turrell uncovered a potential new immunotherapy that targets a protein called endosialin.
The team, based at the Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre at the Institute of Cancer Research, studied a type of immunotherapy called CAR-T therapy. This is a treatment that involves reprogramming immune cells to attack specific targets.
This new approach directs CAR-T cells to attack endosialin, a protein found in the blood vessels of solid tumours. They studied it in mice, and found that targeting endosialin reduced tumour growth and spread without damaging healthy cells.
The researchers are now working on developing this treatment further, with hopes it could one day be a new way to treat breast cancer.
Training the immune system
In May, Professor Pascal Meier at our research centre discovered a way to kill breast cancer cells by training the immune system to recognise and destroy them. This could provide longer-lasting protection for people with breast cancer.
Pascal and his team used an innovative technology to target a protein called RIPK1, which helps cancer cells survive and avoid detection.
Eliminating RIPK1 activated the immune system to detect and kill any remaining cancer cells. The researchers also found that targeting RIPK1 in mice boosted the immune system after they had radiotherapy and immunotherapy. A It also improved the response to treatment.
This exciting approach could be effective for different cancers, including triple negative breast cancer which currently lacks targeted treatments. Although this research is still in its early stages, it offers hope for the future.
Understanding resistance to PARP inhibitors
Later that same month, Professors Andrew Tutt and Chris Lord at our research centre made an important discovery about why some breast cancers become resistant to PARP inhibitors.
PARP inhibitors are a type of targeted therapy used to treat breast cancers with an altered BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene.
The team found that in 60% of people with PARP inhibitor resistance, the altered BRCA gene had changed in a way that meant the gene could work again. These new ‘reversion’ mutations meant that the cancer cells could survive the effects of PARP inhibitors.
This research could help identify who's most likely to benefit from PARP inhibitors and pave the way for better ways of treating breast cancer. By understanding how resistance happens, scientists can stay one step ahead of the disease.
Targeting secondary breast cancer in the brain
In July, Professor Damir Varešlija and Professor Leonie Young at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland identified a key protein called RET that drives the spread of oestrogen receptor-positive breast cancer to the brain.
Up to 30% of people with secondary breast cancer develop tumours in the brain, which can be especially hard to treat.
The study found that the RET protein helps cancer cells stick to brain tissue and grow.
Damir and Leonie also found that targeting RET with specific inhibitor drugs significantly reduced tumour growth in mice. This suggests RET inhibitors could be a new treatment avenue.
The team hope that in the future, clinical trials will test how well RET inhibitors work in people with secondary breast cancer in the brain.
Offering more time for those with secondary breast cancer
In October, a clinical trial led by Professor Nicholas Turner at our research centre, revealed that a new ‘triplet therapy’ could double the time before secondary breast cancer progresses.
The therapy consisted of 3 drugs—palbociclib, fulvestrant, and a new PI3K inhibitor called inavolisib.
This INAVO120 study, funded by Roche, involved 325 people with hormone receptor (HR) positive, HER2-negative secondary breast cancer with an altered PIK3CA gene.
Those receiving the triplet therapy had their disease progression delayed by an average of 15 months, compared to just over 7 months with just palbociclib and fulvestrant.
Nick and his team hope these results will lead to the licencing of inavolisib. And that this will become the new standard of care for some people with secondary breast cancer.
Our research
These discoveries demonstrate the power of research and the incredible impact of your support. Thank you for joining us this year and being part of this journey. Together, we’re making progress that gives hope to everyone affected by breast cancer.