October 1, 2013

breast cancer prevention and treatment – critical research gaps

Breast cancer remains a significant scientific, clinical and societal challenge. In the UK around 50,000 women are diagnosed with the disease every year and around 12,000 die.

Breast Cancer Campaign has facilitated a comprehensive analysis of the current gaps in scientific knowledge and treatment of breast cancer, in attempt to identify how to make the most significant impact on the disease.  The results of this analysis, carried out by over 100 breast cancer scientists, clinicians and health care professionals, are to be published in a paper in the journal Breast Cancer Research.

Ten critical gaps have been identified in key areas such as genetics, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and support.  Breast Cancer Campaign believes that with further targeted research focusing on the gaps identified, increased survival rates and survivorship should be achievable within the next 20 years. 

Speakers: 

Professor Alastair Thompson, Professor of Surgical Oncology, University of Dundee and corresponding author of the study

Professor Sue Eccles, Professor of Experimental Cancer Therapeutics in the Cancer Research UK Cancer Therapeutics Unit (CTU) at the Institute of Cancer Research and corresponding author of the study

Baroness Delyth Morgan, Chief Executive, Breast Cancer Campaign