Breast cancer vaccine research

A major media story on Monday 31 May reported news that researchers in the USA have been developing a breast cancer vaccine.

03 Jun

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The research, published in the prestigious journal Nature Medicine, suggested that the vaccine might eventually be given to women before the menopause to prevent them from developing breast cancer.

However, this research is at an early stage and was carried out in mice, rather than humans. So, while the results were impressive, there is a long way to go before they can be translated into something that might work for women.

Commenting on the research, Dr Caitlin Palframan, Policy Manager at Breakthrough Breast Cancer, said:

“This research could have important implications for how we might prevent breast cancer in the future. However, this is an early stage study, and we look forward to seeing the results of large scale clinical trials to find out if this vaccine would be safe and effective in humans.

Crucially, there are already things that women can do to reduce their breast cancer risk including reducing alcohol consumption, maintaining a healthy weight and taking regular exercise.”

There are many different types of breast cancer and this means we are unlikely to find a single way to treat or, ultimately, prevent the disease. Researchers, including those at Breakthrough Breast Cancer’s research facilities, are finding new ways to treat breast cancer, which they are taking to the clinic. It is through doctors having more knowledge about the disease and ways to treat it that survival rates will continue to improve.

Breakthrough Breast Cancer and The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) are also carrying out the Breakthrough Generations Study over 40 years to find out the combination of lifestyle, environmental and genetic factors which cause breast cancer. The ongoing results of this study, which are beginning to be analysed, may contribute towards preventing breast cancer.

So, while the research is promising, it is only through sustained research over a long period of time in many different areas that the fear of breast cancer will be removed for good. Breakthrough Breast Cancer’s research will play a big part in that.