Thanks to many generous supporters, ACT’s Bracode Campaign has raised £1.1 million to initiate the clinical research project, known as ‘The Personalised Breast Cancer Programme’, that will sequence the genomes of volunteer patients from the Cambridge Breast Unit at Addenbrooke’s Hospital.
Cancer specialists based at Addenbrooke’s and the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute are among researchers who recently revealed that there are ten different breast cancer tumour types, rather than it being a single, uniform disease (1).
By understanding the genetic changes that have taken place in each breast cancer patient, it may be possible that their care can be tailored to ensure that the treatment they receive is personalised and the most effective for them.
Professor Carlos Caldas, Honorary Consultant Medical Oncologist at Addenbrooke’s and Chief Investigator for the project at the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, said: “We already know that there are around 10 different types of breast cancer, as we reported in 2012, and these respond differently to the available treatments. We’re looking at ways to predict this response ensuring individual patients get the best treatment for them. We hope that this project will accelerate progress in developing personalised treatment for breast cancer patients.”
Dr Jean Abraham, Academic Consultant in Medical Oncology at Addenbrooke’s and Co-Chief Investigator for the project explained: “We need to investigate this in clinical practice. We need to know, for example, that the genes in patients’ tumours can be sequenced quickly enough and at a cost acceptable to the NHS. We need to monitor, over time, which tumour types respond to which treatments so future patients can be spared those which cause more harm than good.”
Dr Jenny Longmore, Director of Research at Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust (ACT) said: “ACT is pleased to have been able to support the initiation of this clinical research project with more than £1.1 million of funding from many generous supporters. The project will involve patients, women and men, from the Cambridge Breast Unit at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, and we expect that the outcomes of the research will be valuable to patients both nationally and internationally in years to come.”
The Bracode Campaign, so called because changes in DNA can be regarded a little like barcodes, launched in June 2015 with a short film fronted by actress Patricia Hodge. The film asserts that there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all bra and the same goes for breast cancer treatment.
Joy Martin (pictured second right) is one of the Addenbrooke’s patients who gave up her time to take part in the film. She said: “Even though my hospital treatment has finished, it isn’t over. Every day, I’m reminded when I take my medicine and when I see my scars. I supported this campaign so women in the future can be more confident that they’re receiving the best possible treatment for their particular cancer, so they can reconstruct their bodies and their lives as quickly as possible”.
(1) Dawson SJ, Rueda OM, Aparicio S, Caldas C. A new genome-driven integrated classification of breast cancer and its implications. EMBO Journal 2013 : 32:617-628
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To find out more about Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust (ACT) please call 01223 217757, email hello@act4addenbrookes.org.uk or go to www.act4addenbrookes.org.uk
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