Women diagnosed with low-survival breast cancers given a lifeline

Women diagnosed with low-survival breast cancers could be given another lifeline thanks to a new drug.

Mid-adult woman receives annual breast exam from her Latin descent gynecologist. Breast cancer awareness concept.

Women diagnosed with low-survival breast cancers could be given a lifeline after two potential new therapies were given funding for clinical trials.

The Morrison government will announce almost $5m on Wednesday for a University of Melbourne study into young women with hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative, early breast cancer.

“Tragically, young women diagnosed with breast cancer have a higher rate of recurrence and death from the disease,” Health Minister Greg Hunt said. “To combat this, researchers at the University of Melbourne have conducted a genomic analysis of breast cancer samples from women under 45 years of age.

“They have identified a new drug target that may improve the prognosis for these young women.”

A further $668,500 will fund a clinical trial at the University of NSW to help tackle treatment-resistant triple-negative breast cancer, which Mr Hunt said “urgently needed” new therapies to improve survival rates.

In 2021, breast cancer was estimated to be the most commonly diagnosed cancer.

There, researchers have discovered that blocking what is known as the androgen receptor prevents and treats chemotherapy-resistant triple-negative breast cancer.

The two-phase study will evaluate the safety and efficacy of the VT-464 therapy, in combination with chemotherapy in patients with metastatic breast cancer.

Pre-clinical models are believed to show that, when combined with chemotherapy, overall survival rates are significantly higher.

In 2021, breast cancer was estimated to be the most commonly diagnosed cancer, followed by prostate cancer.

One in seven women are diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.

The $5.5m in funding for both trials will be provided through the Medical Research Future Fund’s rare cancers, rare diseases and unmet need clinical trials initiative.

Mr Hunt said the two projects that would receive funding were just a small part of the 2021 grant program.

“There are limited effective treatment options for many rare cancers and diseases, and the combined health burden is significant,” Mr Hunt said. “A further six streams are being assessed and recipients will be announced in due course.”

He said the initiative helped the government’s aim to increase the number of clinical trials in Australia, while supporting research and encouraging innovative treatments.

Originally published as Women diagnosed with low-survival breast cancers given a lifeline