Professor Matthew Smalley and Giusy Tornillo posing for photos in a laboratory.

Our research achievements – Secondary breast cancer

What are we trying to achieve?

Our research into secondary breast cancer has one goal – to stop people dying from breast cancer.

We want to see everyone offered a treatment that works best for them. We want to find new, better treatments that means breast cancer doesn’t return, spread, and become incurable. We want to understand who’s most likely to see their breast cancer come back and prevent this. Ultimately, we want to stop secondary breast cancer in its tracks.

Key achievements

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Liquid biopsies

Developed a blood test that can detect secondary breast cancer up to 15 months earlier.

Read more about this discovery
Microscope

Triple Negative Trial

A clinical trial that changed how advanced triple negative breast cancer is treated.

Read about the trial
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New drug for lobular

Found that the lung cancer drug crizotinib could help treat some secondary lobular breast cancers.

Learn more about crizotinib
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Improving data collection

Spotted and campaigned against treatment and care gaps by people with secondary breast cancer.

Pink icon of a cluster of cancer cells

Understanding cancer spread

Uncovered how healthy cells help breast cancer spread throughout the body.

Read about how cancer spreads
Pill Bottle

New targeted therapy

Showed the life-extending benefits of palbociclib for some women with secondary breast cancer.

Find out more
Scientist working in a lab

Our research into secondary breast cancer

See what research we’re funding now.

Support our research into secondary breast cancer

If secondary breast cancer affects you or the ones you love, our research could help buy more time.

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