Victorian study looks at old drug for new breast cancer treatment

Victorian researchers are ­investigating if a drug used safely for more than 60 years to treat heart failure can hold the key to improving breast cancer treatment.

Cancer patient Kym Walker with researcher Professor Erica Sloan. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Victorian researchers are ­investigating if a drug used safely for more than 60 years to treat heart failure, hypertension and anxiety can also ­improve the effects of radiotherapy for breast cancer.

The team will study beta blockers, known to reduce the stress response, to see if the well-tolerated and readily available drug can also stop cancer returning after treatment.

Made up of researchers from Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Olivia Newton John Cancer Research Institute and University of Melbourne, the three-year study is being funded by Cancer Council Victoria’s Grants-in-Aid program.

Only one in four women whose breast cancer has spread will survive for five years or more, and lead researcher Erica Sloan says radiotherapy has limited use once the cancer spreads.

Researchers will study beta blockers to see if they can stop cancer returning after treatment. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

“However, if the patient’s immune system could be boosted during radiotherapy, we believe it could be used to treat breast cancer even after it spreads,” she said.

“Radiation does its job, but we believe beta blockers might enhance it and help stop the cancer coming back.”

Professor Sloan said recent experiments on mice with breast cancer who were treated with beta-blockers during radiotherapy showed they could slow cancer progression.

They might also make ­patients feel better by reducing the stress response.

“These new results are exciting, it suggests that we are on the right track,” she said.

Pilates and martial arts instructor Kym Walker does not cover her bald head because she says it is her way of raising awareness of breast cancer.

“I do get looks,” she said. “(But) I also have people who talk to me and ask about it, so I see it as a talking point and an opportunity to remind people about Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea and to have their health checks.”

As the daughter of a woman who died of breast cancer, Ms Walker, 63, says she was always diligent in having mammograms every two years and devastated to learn 18 months ago she had stage 4 breast cancer.

“My mother Marie Tinkler died of breast cancer 28 years ago and the research that has happened since then has enabled me to continue living and to move forward,” she said.

“If radiotherapy can improve even further, which means that I wouldn’t have to have chemo for the rest of my life, that’ll be absolutely life-changing.”

Hosting an event for Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea to raise money for cancer support and research on Friday, May 19 is also her way of giving back.

The national event raises money for research and people affected by cancer.

To host an event or donate visit biggestmorningtea.com.au