Breast Cancer Trials’ Post

Breast Cancer Trials is committed to exploring and finding better treatments for people affected by breast cancer through clinical trials research. We are a group of world-leading breast cancer researchers based in Australia and New Zealand, supported by a team of professional staff who manage our clinical trials and raise the money we need to do the work we do. Our research has improved the treatment of breast cancer, led to changes in the way breast cancer is managed, and saved the lives of millions of people affected by breast cancer since our inception in 1978. Our goal is for breast cancer patients to live better, to live longer, and to never die from breast cancer. The work we do and the decisions we make serve the common good of all people who are affected with breast cancer, as we strive every day to make the world a better place. Organisations don’t make things happen; people do. Are you one of these people? Find out more: https://lnkd.in/g3ZtRBP9

How does iPrevent work? iPrevent asks women, or their doctor, to enter family and personal history, lifestyle, and reproductive risk factor information. Using that information, it then provides ten-year and residual lifetime breast cancer risk estimates. There are options to view this information as a pictogram or graph. It then provides tailored estimates of the absolute risk reductions for each breast cancer prevention strategy, personalised lifestyle change suggestions, and tailored advice on breast cancer screening. There is an option to print out a summary for the woman to take to a consultation with her doctor, and/or so the doctor can incorporate it into the woman’s medical record. iPrevent should only be used by women without a personal risk of breast cancer, meaning women who have never received a breast cancer diagnosis. For more information visit: https://lnkd.in/gCMRNqex

Have you heard of the US researcher Dr Craig Jordan? Well for many people around the world who have been diagnosed with breast cancer, Dr Jordan’s research may have impacted your treatment. Dr Jordan was a pharmacologist and a pioneer of hormone therapy for the treatment of breast cancer, and he discovered the well-known breast cancer drug tamoxifen. Sadly he passed away last month. Dr Jordan first synthesized tamoxifen in 1962 but not for breast cancer. He was experimenting with tamoxifen as a contraceptive, while he was a doctoral student at the University of Leeds in Britain. While tamoxifen failed to prevent conception, Dr Jordan saw its’ potential in helping to stop breast cancer growth in postmenopausal women. He was able to show that when given to patients with early-stage breast cancer, it interrupted the tumours growth by blocking oestrogen receptors. This became the first in a new class of drugs called selective oestrogen receptor modulators. Today, tamoxifen remains in routine use around the world in prevention, early stage and metastatic disease, saving countless lives. Dr Jordan’s passing is certainly a reminder of the enormous work that goes into finding new and better treatments for breast cancer, and the impact that a research idea can have on the lives of so many. To read his New York Times obituary, please visit: https://lnkd.in/gsriBMiX

Flinders University is offering free resources to women living with metastatic breast cancer. These resources are offered as part of the Finding My Way – Advanced research study, with support from Cancer Australia and BCNA. Both resources are specifically designed to offer information and support to women living with metastatic breast cancer. This project was supported by Grant 2000514 awarded through the 2020 Priority-driven Collaborative Cancer Research Scheme funded by Cancer Australia. This study has been reviewed by the Southern Clinical Human Research Ethics Committee. Find out more: https://lnkd.in/gcEp2UF6

NAIDOC Week is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate and recognise the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. However, we also recognise that Indigenous women are facing higher risks of breast cancer and lower survival rates compared to the wider population, and our response must go further than just one week. We are very proud of our First Nations brochure about clinical trials and the importance of this research, designed and created in collaboration with the First Nations-owned and operated agency, Dreamtime Creative. The brochure was designed for Indigenous communities, to help explain the purpose and benefits of clinical trials and the importance of participation. Follow the link to learn more: https://lnkd.in/gzFhPGdF

CAMBRIA-2 is a new study that aims to prevent breast cancer coming back in patients with ER-positive, HER2-negative early breast cancer. Some of these patients may experience breast cancer recurrence due to resistance to endocrine therapy or if dormant tumour cells grow. CAMBRIA 2 aims to find out if giving camizestrant is more effective in reducing the chance of breast cancer from coming back, compared with the usual endocrine treatments such as letrozole, anastrozole, exemestane or tamoxifen. The research will also find out more about the side effects, safety and effectiveness of camizestrant. Camizestrant is a type of endocrine (hormone) treatment that works by breaking down the oestrogen receptors in cells and also blocks the oestrogen receptors from being triggered by oestrogen. This prevents ER-positive cancer cells receiving messages to grow and multiply. Camizestrant may help to reduce the chance of cancer coming back. CAMBRIA-2 is open to women and men who have ER-positive, HER2-negative early breast cancer that has an intermediate or high risk of coming back (recurrence). Find out more about this important research: https://lnkd.in/gbGf6WkH

The CAPTURE clinical trial is open to women and men with ER positive, HER2 negative breast cancer, that has returned after treatment with a CDK4/6 inhibitor. CAPTURE is looking at individuals who have become resistant to their endocrine (hormone) therapy, and seeing if this can be overcome with new targeted therapies. "If this treatment option is effective, we would hope that we would be able to prolong the lives of individuals who have this type of breast cancer." - Study Chair, Professor Sarah-Jane Dawson. Learn more about this clinical trial here: https://lnkd.in/gMgmirw

'Finding My Way - Advanced' is an internet-based program that provides convenient, user-friendly information and strategies to help you live well with metastatic breast cancer. Flinders University is offering free resources to women living with advanced breast cancer as part of the 'Finding My Way - Advanced' research study, with support from Cancer Australia and BCNA. To find out more visit: https://lnkd.in/gC4ynZJu

The Australian Government has approved the drug Olaparib for listing under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), for Australians with HER2-negative high-risk early breast cancer with specific gene mutations. Olaparib is a targeted drug known as a 'PARP inhibitor', which is a protein that helps damaged cells to repair themselves. Breast Cancer Trials has conducted research into this treatment as part of the OlympiA clinical trial. The study found that giving olaparib tablets twice daily for a year to patients with BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations, after they have completed standard chemotherapy, improves overall survival rates and reduces breast cancer recurrence. In Australia, breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women, with more than two-thirds of all patients diagnosed with HER2-negative. Around 300 patients are expected to benefit from this listing each year. Without subsidy, they might pay around $69,000 per course of treatment. The approval of this drug will be a fantastic step forward in providing more affordable treatment options for patients. For more information visit: https://bit.ly/3zp3fvj

DID YOU KNOW? Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) accounts for less than 5% of all breast cancer diagnoses. It is a form of invasive breast cancer that affects the lymphatic vessels in the skin of the breast. Rather than forming as a lump, the breast becomes red and swollen, and this is commonly confused with an infection. This is caused by the cancer spreading along and blocking the lymphatic vessels, which work to remove fluid and other waste from the tissues of the body. It is important to understand that IBC may not result in a classic rash-like appearance, which makes it important for individuals to be aware of small changes to their breasts that may not align with the typical appearance of a rash-like skin condition. From symptoms to treatment options and how it differs from other types of breast cancer, find out more on our website: https://lnkd.in/gURq2teY