Causes and prevention research for breast cancer

Genes

There are already some known inherited gene changes (mutations) that increase the risk of breast cancer. Researchers continue to look into these gene mutations and how they affect breast cancer risk.

Researchers are also looking at other breast cancer gene research. This includes:

• finding new gene mutations

• creating a register of families who have a fault in the genes BRCA1 and BRCA2, as well as other gene faults. The aim of this is to help doctors in the future to help decide the best way to treat someone who has these faulty genes

• looking at changes to the genes in tissue from male breast cancer. They want to understand what increases the risk of developing male breast cancer and how it is different from female breast cancer

Find out more about genetics and cancer

Diet, smoking, body weight and physical activity

There are many studies around the world looking at ways to reduce breast cancer risk through diet, physical activity and lifestyle choices.

Researchers are looking into giving a 12 week lifestyle programme to those at increased risk of breast or bowel cancer. The advice would be given at the early detection and genetic clinics. The programme involves information about diet, physical activity, body weight, and smoking.

Young women with dense breast tissue

We know already that the density of  breast tissue is a risk factor in developing breast cancer. Researchers in the Greater Manchester and Cheshire area are looking at women with dense breast tissue. They are looking at women between the ages of 30 and 39 years of age. They will look at mammograms of women who have had breast cancer and those that haven’t. They want to find out how strong a risk factor dense breast tissue is.

Stem cells

Stem cells are undeveloped (immature) cells that can become any type of cell in the body.

Researchers are studying breast stem cells from people without cancer, and from people with different stages of breast cancer. They want to understand more about how stem cells are involved in the start of certain breast diseases. Knowing more about how breast stem cells work may also help to develop future treatments.

Find out more about this trial

Drugs to lower the risk of breast cancer

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) provides guidance for women at higher risk of breast cancer. As a result of earlier research, they recommend that women at high or moderate risk of breast cancer should talk to their doctor about taking tamoxifen or raloxifene for 5 years, alongside their other options. Tamoxifen and raloxifene are types of ​hormone therapy​ .

Due to the side effects of tamoxifen or raloxifene, doctors do not recommend these drugs if you have had a ​blood clot​ or are at risk of developing one. So researchers are looking for other drugs to prevent breast cancer which do not have these side effects. A trial is looking at a drug called Ulipristal acetatete (UA) to see if it helps prevent breast cancer. 

Research is also looking at other drugs that might be able to prevent breast cancer in women with an increased risk of the disease. One trial is looking at a drug called denosumab. This is a type of ​monoclonal antibody​ . This is an international trial. They want to see if denosumab works in reducing the risk of women with the ​BRAC1 gene​ changes from developing breast cancer.

Another study is looking at giving a drug called metformin to people with ​Li Fraumeni Syndrome​ . People diagnosed with Li Fraumeni Syndrome have a very high risk of developing cancer in the future. So by giving metformin they want to know if this will reduce that risk.

The Breakthrough Generations Study

This is a large study looking into the causes of breast cancer. It is recruiting thousands of women. It was set up by Breast Cancer Now and The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR). They are looking into the lifestyle, environmental, genetic and hormonal factors that might affect an individual’s risk of developing breast cancer. 

Women living in the UK aged 16 years or over could volunteer to take part. It opened in September 2004 and has recruited over 113,000 women. This includes women of all ages and from all areas of the UK.

What the study involves

Women taking part in the study fill in a questionnaire about factors that can increase the risk of developing breast cancer, such as:

• how many children they had and what age the women were at their births

• whether or not they've taken the contraceptive pill and for how long

• whether they've had breast disease

• their age and weight

• any family history of breast cancer

• their diet and alcohol intake

• whether they have reached the menopause and at what age

• whether or not they've taken hormone replacement therapy (HRT)

Women also give a blood sample. The researchers use the blood samples to look for any genes and hormonal factors that might influence the risk of developing breast cancer.

The research team contact women taking part in the trial every couple of years to ask about their general health. And the women fill out another questionnaire and give another blood sample. The researchers can then compare the factors affecting any women who go on to develop breast cancer with those who do not.

The study will last at least 40 years. The research team have already published many results from the study. You can see them on the below link to the Breakthrough Generations website. 

Visit the Breast Cancer Now Generations Study website