10 Years of Research

Thanks to your support our research has transformed our understanding of breast cancer. Over the last 10 years we have learned that breast cancer is not one disease, but many - and we've used this knowledge to design better treatments for patients.

The breakthroughs we've made at the Research Centre are diverse, but every one takes us closer to a future free from the fear of breast cancer. Here are some of the highlights from our work so far.

Eight clinical trials have started due to discoveries at the Research Centre, testing new treatments developed by our scientists and building on knowledge about the best way to treat different types of breast cancer.

We have found that some faulty genes interact with other healthy genes and increase the risk of breast cancer. This knowledge will allow us to identify women at risk and make sure they are aware and monitored.

We’ve launched a whole new direction in cancer drug development. Olaparib, the first drug to target cancer using an intelligent new approach, is now being used to treat patients in clinical trials. It has shrunk patients’ tumours without causing the usual side effects of chemotherapy.

We have identified two different ways that breast cancer treatments can fail. One where hereditary breast cancer resists treatment and can grow back and another which explains why some cancers become resistant to tamoxifen. We can exploit this understanding to ensure that breast cancer doesn't become resistant to treatment, helping patients live longer.

The Breakthrough Generations Study includes 100,000 women and is investigating the effects of genetic, environmental, behavioural and hormonal factors on breast cancer. This will deliver reliable information on why some women develop the disease and means that breast cancer could be preventable in the future.