Written by Brigette Ann Hobbs
Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting women today. Millions of individuals and their families are impacted by the disease each year. Encouragingly, it also receives some of the highest levels of research funding of any cancer type, with more than $1 billion invested annually to advance prevention, detection, and treatment. So, what are some of the newest discoveries shaping breast cancer care and treatment?
One promising development that is still actively being advanced is the utilization of biomarkers to help better personalize treatment options for patients. Biomarkers are a gene, protein, or other substance that is able to be measured in the body. To further explain, when cancer cells die, circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is released into the bloodstream. Testing this ctDNA for specific biomarkers can help determine whether a tumor is responding to chemotherapy or if the cancer has become resistant to the treatment. Additionally, biomarkers may help identify which medications are most likely to be effective, predict the risk of cancer recurrence in patients with early-stage disease, assess how aggressive a cancer may be, and even detect breast cancer before it becomes visible through traditional imaging methods.
Moreover, multiple new breast cancer treatments are also currently being researched. For example, a new drug is being developed for patients with advanced HER2-negative or hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. This treatment targets estrogen receptors and may help prevent tumor cells with ESR1 mutations from becoming resistant to hormone therapy. The ESR1 mutation occurs after the progression of breast cancer, in about 30% to 50% of cases after repeated exposure to hormone therapies. If proven effective, this therapy could help extend the benefits of hormone treatment and slow disease progression for many.
Another treatment that is being studied involves using alternative types of radiation therapy. One approach that has shown potential is proton therapy. This treatment uses protons—which, if you were paying attention in middle school chemistry class, are positively charged particles—to destroy breast cancer cells and prevent them from dividing as well. Proton therapy is very beneficial at targeting a specific area of the cancer, which can help protect other organs from unnecessary radiation exposure.
Breast cancer research has made remarkable progress over the years, but there is still a long way to go, both in advancing breast cancer care and in making breakthroughs across other forms of cancer. Through Carrying For Care, every purchase goes towards funding women’s health research, such as cancer treatment advancements. With continued donations, support, and advocacy for women’s health, we can get even closer to improving outcomes and enhancing quality of life for breast cancer patients and their families.
Works Cited
What’s new in breast cancer research? (n.d.). American Cancer Society. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/breast-cancer/about/whats-new-in-breast-cancer-research.html
Proton Therapy for Breast Cancer. (n.d.). https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/breast-cancer/proton-therapy.
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