Breast cancer treatment: Scientists achieve ‘gamechanger’ breakthrough

Scientists have demonstrated the method to preserve breast tissue outside the human body for at least a week, in what could be a potentially "gamechanging" breakthrough in the breast cancer research.

The study, funded by the Prevent Breast Cancer charity and published in the Journal of Mammary Gland Biology and Neoplasia, found that breast tissue could be preserved in a special gel solution, which will help scientists identify the most effective drug treatments for the patients.

Breast cancer treatment breakthrough: What does it mean?

According to Dr Hannah Harrison, a research fellow at the University of Manchester, the discovery would equip scientists to test the most appropriate drugs on living tissue for the treatment and prevention of breast cancer.

"There are various risk-reducing options for women at high risk of developing breast cancer – for example, those with a significant family history or who have mutations in the BRCA [breast cancer] genes," she was quoted as saying by The Guardian.

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"However, not all drugs work for all women. This new approach means that we can start to determine which drugs will work for which women by measuring their impact on living tissue."

"Ultimately, this means that women can take the most effective drug for their particular genetic makeup."

The team of scientists led by Harrison kept breast tissue viable outside the body for relatively long periods. "By testing different hydrogel formulas we were able to find a solution that preserves human breast tissue for at least a week – and often even longer," she said.

"This is a real gamechanger for breast cancer research in many ways. We can better test drugs for both the prevention and treatment of cancer, and can examine how factors like breast density – which we know is a risk factor for breast cancer – react to particular hormones or chemicals to see if this has an impact on cancer development."

(With inputs from agencies)