Breast Cancer Research
Program Description
NBCF strives to help find the cure for breast cancer by working with some of the finest scientists in the world. Funding is provided to MD Anderson Cancer Center, Cleveland Clinic, and Worldwide Innovative Networking for research efforts focused on targeted therapy for breast cancer initiating cells, therapeutic and preventative drugs for breast cancer, and the first clinical trial offering a choice of therapy guided by the biology to the majority of patients included in the study. Their goals are to identify and personalize cancer treatment to offer hope and healing to the countless women diagnosed each year.
Program Short-Term Success
Researchers have found that gene therapy delivered directly to a particularly stubborn type of breast cancer cell caused the cell to self-destruct, lowered the chance of recurrence, and helped increase the effectiveness of some types of chemotherapy.
In the first year of the study on breast cancer initiating cells, substantial preliminary data was accumulated for targeted therapy for breast cancer initiating cells. The goal of targeted therapy is based on finding how breast cancer initiation cells can resist drug treatment, thus enabling researchers to develop clinical trials to suppress breast cancer initiation cells.
NBCF participated in the launch of an original and academic clinical and international clinical trial offering a choice of therapy guided by the biology to the majority of patients included in the study in four countries at one time.
Program Long-Term Success
The ultimate study on gene therapy is to develop an effective vaccine which will serve as an ideal therapeutic without the taxing side effects of chemotherapy and radiation.
The success of the breast cancer initiating cells study could provide knowledge that will lead to effective strategies for cancer treatment.
The target of the clinical trial is to find successful outcomes to personalize cancer treatment for the vast majority of patients.
