May 15, 2024

Progress in Breast Cancer Care: The Promise of Precision Diagnostics

In the relentless pursuit to end breast cancer, strides are being made, thanks to innovative research and investments driving progress in precision diagnostics.

Breast Cancer Canada proudly supports the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research (OICR), where groundbreaking advancements are emerging from the Diagnostic Development program. The progress holds promise to revolutionize breast cancer care, offering tailored treatments based on individual patient needs.

Precision Medicine: Tailoring Treatment For Improved Outcomes

Breast cancer management is not a one-size-fits-all. With over 50 different types of breast cancer, each patient’s journey is unique, demanding personalized treatment and tailored approaches for their care. This is where precision medicine comes into play. Dr. Jane Bayani and Dr. Melanie Spears, Co-Directors of Diagnostic Development at OICR, are spearheading efforts to develop tests that predict how breast cancer patients will respond to treatment. Their work focuses on identifying biomarkers that guide treatment decisions, ensuring patients receive therapies with the highest likelihood of success for their specific type.

Predicting Risk of Cancer Recurrence

For patients with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, recurrence risk is a pressing concern. Bayani and her team have developed a groundbreaking test that analyzes 95 genetic markers, providing invaluable insights into recurrence risk. This test empowers clinicians to tailor treatment strategies, offering targeted therapies to high-risk patients while sparing others from unnecessary interventions. The test’s reproducibility and global patenting signify a significant step towards making personalized medicine accessible worldwide.

Optimizing Treatment Efficacy

While certain treatments, like anthracyclines, are highly effective against breast cancer, they come with some potential risks too. Dr. Spears and her collaborators have devised an assay to predict patient response to anthracyclines, mitigating the risk of adverse effects. By identifying patients who will benefit most from these treatments, clinicians can minimize side effects and optimize outcomes, enhancing both longevity and quality of life for breast cancer survivors.

The Path to More Personalized Care

As diagnostic tests transition from development to clinical implementation, the vision of personalized medicine comes closer to realization. OICR’s commitment to translational research and infrastructure has been instrumental in this journey. Through strategic partnerships and ongoing validation efforts, Dr. Bayani and Dr. Spears, and their teams are paving the way for a future where every breast cancer patient receives tailored care, maximizing their chances of survival and well-being.

Looking Ahead

The advancements in precision diagnostics at OICR continue progress for a new era in breast cancer care. With continued support and collaboration, the promise of personalized medicine can become a reality for patients across the country. Together, we can transform the landscape of breast cancer treatment, offering personalized and tailored approaches.

Breast Cancer Canada is driving progress towards a future without breast cancer. Through innovation, collaboration, and unwavering determination, we are closer than ever to conquering this disease, one personalized treatment at a time.

Please donate today: breastcancerprogress.ca/donate

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Progress Through Research

Latest Research

Breast Cancer Canada donations fund life-saving research that directly impacts Canadian patients. That means better answers, bigger breakthroughs – and more personalized treatment for every breast cancer diagnosis.

Patient Tools

Our suite of digital tools are each designed to help individuals better manage their breast cancer journey through education, research and personalized insights, while also elevating the patient voice.

Patient Stories

Every breast cancer journey is unique, but together, these stories paint a powerful picture of progress. Through firsthand accounts from patients and survivors, we share stories that highlight the lived-experiences of breast cancer.

Fuel Progress

Progress happens when we invest in it. Canada is home to some of the world’s brightest minds in research. Together, we are advancing science, ensuring it leads to earlier detection, better treatments, and improved outcomes for patients across the country.