Revolutionary way to directly target breast cancer tumour.
Finding a way to use the body’s natural defence system to treat cancer or prevent it from returning after surgery, is the focus of promising new breast cancer research made possible thanks to our donors.
The work is being led by Professor Andreas Evdokiou and his Breast Cancer Research Unit at the Basil Hetzel Institute for Translational Health Research (BHI) – the first group in the world to test this new approach to treating breast cancer.
Prof Evdokiou’s research focuses on a revolutionary way to deliver the treatment to better target the tumour.
“We have designed a simple, cost effective, safe, and non-invasive injectable gel system of delivering the patient’s own cancer-fighting T-cells directly to the tumour mass,” Prof Evdokiou said.
“In its liquid form, the gel can be mixed with large numbers of cancer-fighting T-cells, forming an injectable mixture. Once injected into the space where the tumour is surgically removed or next to an existing tumour, a gel is formed, temporarily locking the cells in place.
“We propose that the immune cells will gradually migrate from the gel in large numbers, ensuring a continuous supply within the area leading to effective cancer cell killing.”
T-cells are a type of white blood cells which play a key role in the immune system and help to fight cancer.
Currently, the main treatment for solid cancers is surgical removal, followed by chemotherapy or radiotherapy to reduce the risk of cancer coming back.
Unfortunately though, in many cases, surgical removal is dangerous and not practical.
Prof Evdokiou’s research could benefit many breast cancer patients, especially those who are unable to have surgery, and offering a less-invasive way to prevent the cancer from returning once it has been surgically removed.
Thanks to our supporters, testing for this lifesaving research can continue so that more women can be saved from breast cancer.
