Our research achievements – Secondary breast cancer
What are we trying to achieve?
Our research into secondary breast cancer has one goal – to stop people dying from breast cancer.
We want to see everyone offered a treatment that works best for them. We want to find new, better treatments that means breast cancer doesn’t return, spread, and become incurable. We want to understand who’s most likely to see their breast cancer come back and prevent this. Ultimately, we want to stop secondary breast cancer in its tracks.
Key achievements
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Liquid biopsies
Developed a blood test that can detect secondary breast cancer up to 15 months earlier.
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Triple Negative Trial
A clinical trial that changed how advanced triple negative breast cancer is treated.
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New drug for lobular
Found that the lung cancer drug crizotinib could help treat some secondary lobular breast cancers.
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Improving data collection
Spotted and campaigned against treatment and care gaps by people with secondary breast cancer.
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Understanding cancer spread
Uncovered how healthy cells help breast cancer spread throughout the body.
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New targeted therapy
Showed the life-extending benefits of palbociclib for some women with secondary breast cancer.
Our research into secondary breast cancer
See what research we’re funding now.
Our latest discoveries
Researchers identify new target for treating secondary breast cancer in the brain
Our scientists have identified a key factor driving the spread of oestrogen receptor (ER) positive breast cancer to the brain. They hope thi...
Researchers identify what drives PARP inhibitor resistance in secondary breast cancer
Researchers at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, have increased our understanding of how cancer drugs called PARP inhibitors stop wo...
A potential new way to overcome fulvestrant resistance in secondary breast cancer
Scientists have furthered our understanding of how some secondary breast cancers can become resistant to the hormone therapy fulvestrant.
Support our research into secondary breast cancer
If secondary breast cancer affects you or the ones you love, our research could help buy more time.