The most common type of breast cancers are known as hormone receptor-positive breast cancers, accounting for approximately 75% of all cases. These types of cancer contain receptors for the female hormones oestrogen and/or progesterone.

Despite advances in treatment for these types of cancer, the individual experience of women diagnosed with the disease is variable — for example, different women can respond very differently to the same treatments.

A new facility will transform our understanding of breast cancer

To discover smarter, highly effective treatments we are investing in a new, cutting-edge breast cancer modelling facility to give us the opportunity to revolutionise research into breast cancer. In this facility we will be able to establish living 3D cell models to help us better understand how breast cancer cells respond to different drugs.

Growing 3D human breast tumours

We will grow human breast tumours as a 3D culture, in a tissue-like matrix much more like the natural home in a human body. This is a pioneering new system known as “organoid culture”. The organoid models more accurately represent what a tumour looks like — a complex, 3D structure. And because they are derived directly from the patient’s tumours, they will give us a far greater insight into how drugs work than the traditional flat 2D models.

Developing smarter, kinder treatments

Ultimately, these new models will provide a more robust testing environment for new drugs — which means we can develop kinder, more effective treatments with fewer side effects for patients.

Our new breast cancer modelling facility will let us fast-track new treatments to the patients who need them now. A donation from you today will help support our vital research using this new facility. 

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