Researchers, led by the University of Melbourne’s Professor Laura Mackay, a Laboratory Head and Immunology Theme Leader at the Peter Doherty Institute of Infection and Immunity (Doherty Institute), in collaboration with Pfizer, have discovered new insights into possible future treatments for breast cancer.
A new dual-target drug that has been shown to supercharge cancer-fighting immune cells in mice may support a new treatment approach for patients, potentially paving the way for improved outcomes in breast cancer care.
Breast cancer is the fifth most common cause of cancer death in Australia, with more than 20,000 Australians diagnosed per year. Over 1,000 of those diagnosed are young Australian women under 40. There is an urgent need to discover more effective treatments for breast cancer.
Immunotherapy represents one of the most promising new treatments for cancer, by boosting the body’s own immune cells to kill cancer cells. However, only a small proportion of breast cancer patients respond to existing immunotherapy treatments.
Results from a new study published in Clinical and Translational Immunology found that dual-target antibody therapy can enhance cancer-fighting T cells more effectively than current single-target therapy in mice. Professor Mackay explained the importance of this research for cancer patients.
We need to find new ways to instruct the immune system to fight cancer.
Our research shows that a two-pronged strategy can better ignite cancer-fighting immune cells, which is the goal of immunotherapy.”
Professor Laura Mackay, Laboratory Head and Immunology Theme Leader at the Peter Doherty Institute of Infection and