NEW drugs which could help save the lives of patients with an aggressive form of breast cancer are being investigated in Scotland.
A leading researcher at Glasgow University has received a grant from charity Breast Cancer Now and the Chief Scientist Office of the Scottish Government to help improve the prognosis of patients with a deadly type of the disease.
Dr Stephen Tait, a senior lecturer within the university's Institute of Cancer Sciences, will investigate how what is known as "triple negative breast cancer" develops and test whether new drugs can be used to stop the disease in its tracks.
Around 15% of breast cancer patients in the UK have the triple negative type which tends to affect younger women and can advance quickly. It does not respond to some of the most well known treatments for breast cancer.
Mary Allison, Scotland director for Breast Cancer Now, said: “This collaboration between The Chief Scientist Office of the Scottish Government, Dr Stephen Tait at the University of Glasgow and Breast Cancer Now is exactly the kind of partnership we need to help stop women dying from breast cancer.
“Over 1,000 women die from breast cancer each year in Scotland - they are mothers, grandmothers, daughters and friends. Every partnership and investment in research gets us closer to our vision that by 2050 no women will die of breast cancer.”
As part of this research, Dr Tait will focus on a pro-cancerous protein dubbed MCL-1. This protein has been linked to the formation of tumours and is also thought to reduce the effectiveness of chemotherapy drugs to kill cancer cells.
The research into aggressive triple negative breast cancer – which will take place at the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre over the next three years – could lead to the development of new drugs to block the protein’s pro-cancerous effects and improve current treatment.
Dr Stephen Tait, Senior Lecturer at the University of Glasgow, said: "We hope that this research could lead to new ways to make breast cancer treatments more effective.
“Exciting research projects are underway across Scotland and it’s great that the University of Glasgow is at the forefront of research into this disease.”
Scottish ministers have adopted Breast Cancer Now's commitment to “stop anyone dying from breast cancer by 2050”.
Shona Robison, Scottish Health Secretary, said: “Our £450,000 joint partnership with Breast Cancer Now will allow for more Scottish-led research into breast cancer development to take place, helping to further enhance our knowledge and treatment of the disease.”
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