December 16, 2016

Retinoic Acid maybe an effective therapy

I am Dr. Paola Marcato, Assistant Professor in the Department of Pathology at Dalhousie University. the Canadian Breast Cancer Society, the Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute and the QEII Foundation, have funded my research lab and colleagues: Drs. Carman Giacomantonio, Lucy Helyer and Ian Weaver.

Our research is to investigate if a vitamin A metabolite, retinoic acid may be an effective therapy for certain triple-negative breast cancer patients. Retinoic acid is a highly effective treatment for acute promyelocytic leukemia; however, when retinoic acid was applied generally to treat other cancers, including breast cancer it was not effective.

Our data suggests that retinoic acid-based therapy was not successful in the treatment of breast cancer because it was applied to all cancer patients, without considering key differences between individual patient tumors. Our data suggests that there are specific and measurable criteria that can predict if a triple-negative breast cancer tumor will respond well to retinoic acid treatment.

We propose experiments that will identify and measure these qualities in triple-negative breast cancer patients. Furthermore, we will use a pre-clinical model to test how effective our prediction tools are in determining tumor response to retinoic acid.

Completion of this project will lead to improved treatment for triple-negative breast cancer patients and hence the improved survival of these patients currently lacking targeted therapy options.

Closing the Gaps: Canadians Calling For More

New national survey data reveals strong public support for more coordinated access to screening, timely diagnosis, personalized treatment and ongoing care after treatment. Breast Cancer

Webinar: Understanding Recurrence Risk

Thursday, October 1, 2026 | 3:00–4:00 p.m. ETDr. Nathalie Levasseur, Medical Oncologist, BC Cancer For people living with HR+/HER2- early breast cancer, understanding recurrence risk

The Canadian Health Perspective

Santis Health and Nanos Research A national public opinion survey from Santis Health and Nanos Research examines Canadians’ experiences with health care, their priorities, and

October Education Series

Finishing active breast cancer treatment can bring a sense of transition, but it does not mean that questions about health, recovery and what comes next

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.