Five recent breast cancer breakthroughs
12th October 2021
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the world and in 2020 over 2.4 million people received a new diagnosis of breast cancer. While survival rates for breast cancer have been improving over the last decades, tragically over 768,000 people still died from breast cancer in 2020 alone.
We won’t stop until cancer does. And neither will our researchers – thanks to your generosity and kindness our researchers were able to work hard to start new cures for breast cancer. Read on to learn more about our most recent breakthroughs in breast cancer research:
2.4m
The number of people worldwide diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020.
1st
In 2020, breast cancer was the most common cancer worldwide and the 4th most common cause of cancer death.
1. New discovery paves the way for better diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer
Worldwide Cancer Research scientists in France have discovered how the tissue surrounding breast cancer tumours can prevent immune cells from reaching and destroying cancer cells. Their findings could lead to better ways to diagnose breast cancer and new ways to improve immunotherapy.
2. New drug could become one of the first targeted treatments for triple-negative breast cancer
Dr Najoua Lalaoui, a scientist at the Walter & Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research in Australia, has been studying a new drug called birinapant. Her research is now showing that birinapant could become one of the first targeted treatments for triple-negative breast cancer.
3. New hope that an old drug could be reused to treat triple negative breast cancer
Researchers funded by Worldwide Cancer Research have found that a commonly used chemotherapy drug could be effective against an aggressive form of breast cancer called triple negative breast cancer (TNBC).
4. Clinical trials for new cancer vaccine could start within three years
Scientists, funded by Worldwide Cancer Research, are ready to start clinical trials for a new cancer vaccine thanks to a recent research breakthrough. The team, led by Associate Professor Kristen Radford in Queensland, Australia, hope that they will be able to begin clinical trials within the next three years and believe that their findings will be relevant for many different types of cancer, including breast cancer.
5. Gene found to be a key player in helping breast cancer to spread around the body
Dr Sara Sigismund at the European Institute of Oncology in Italy has helped to discover that a gene called EPN3 plays a crucial role in helping breast cancer to grow and spread around the body to other organs. The researchers have worked out exactly how this gene works and suggest that EPN3 could be used as a new target for the design of new breast cancer drugs.
Incredible discoveries like this would not happen without research - and research cannot happen without the support of people like you. If you're feeling inspired, why not help us make the breakthroughs of the future by donating and stating new cancer cures today?
Donate
Further reading
Triple negative breast cancer – Everything you need to know
Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a particularly aggressive type of breast cancer for which more research is urgently needed. Here’s everything you need to know about TNBC.
01 October 2021
What do the experts think is the future of cancer research?
The experts give their views on hot topics in cancer: Rare cancers, stopping the spread of cancer, personalised medicine and immunotherapy.
03 September 2021
New discovery paves the way for better diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer
Scientists in France have discovered how the tissue surrounding breast cancer tumours can prevent immune cells from reaching and destroying cancer cells.
22 June 2021
Join our monthly newsletter
Keep up to date with all our latest news, events, groundbreaking research discoveries and much more!
You're now a Curestarter!
Our newsletter usually drops towards the end of each month