Where your money goes

Associate Professor Erica Sloan

Monash University
Repurposing blood pressure medication for triple negative breast cancer 

While chemotherapy has been central in breast cancer treatment for decades, some patients eventually stop responding to chemotherapy. This is particularly devastating for those diagnosed with Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) as there are often very few alternative treatment options.

Previous research from the laboratory of NBCF-funded researcher Associate Professor Sloan, has shown that chemotherapy causes the body to enter ‘fight-or-flight’ mode which affects how patients respond to chemotherapy. This study will determine how chemotherapy prompts a ‘fight or flight' response and why it stops chemotherapy from working optimally.

Associate Professor Sloan will also be exploring whether beta-blocker drugs, medication commonly used for high blood pressure, block this ‘fight or flight’ stress reaction and enhance the treatment response to chemotherapy.

Professor Kum Kum Khanna

QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
Repurposing blood pressure medication for triple negative breast cancer 

A new approach to targeting treatment resistance in breast cancer

It is becoming increasingly evident that the spread of primary cancer can be initiated at a very early stage by a small population of unique cancer cells called cancer stem cells (CSCs).

CSCs are resistant to standard chemotherapy and radiotherapy, hence additional treatments are required. NBCF-funded researcher Professor Khanna and her team have identified a new enzyme, called MLK4, which protects CSCs against these standard therapies. Thanks to the support of the Mother’s Day Classic community, this study will test the efficiency of several MLK4-inhibitor drugs which should make CSCs more susceptible to treatment.

It is hoped that this will reduce the number of CSCs in the tumour, causing cancer regression and reduced risk of recurrence

Dr David Croucher

Garvan Institute of Medical Research / University of New South Wales
Targeting the JNK protein as a new breast cancer treatment

Unfortunately, most patients with Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) do not respond well to standard chemotherapy, meaning that new treatment options are needed. A potential way to stop TNBC is to control a protein called JNK, which promotes the spread of cancer.

However, this protein is complex – it also has protective mechanisms in normal breast tissue. A drug designed to control JNK ‘s action would need to be designed to only target negative effects and retain the positive ones. 

NBCF-funded researcher Dr Croucher and his team have a unique technology platform which allows them to explore various functions of the JNK protein and how to control them. They are working to develop drugs that target specific elements and functions of JNK, which could lead to new treatment options for TNBC patients.

Dr Camille Short

The University of Melbourne
Improving heart health in breast cancer survivors using tele-rehabilitation

Cardiovascular disease is now the leading cause of death among breast cancer survivors, but it is possible to reduce risk through specialised exercise rehabilitation. This is usually provided within supervised clinic-based programs, but these are often difficult to access due to time, travel and cost barriers. Home based programs have not been as effective as supervised exercise therapies, likely due to a lack of real-time encouragement and customisation.

Tele-rehabilitation could bridge this gap by enabling direct supervision by a clinical exercise specialist while the participant completes therapy in their own environment. Online applications and wearable heart rate sensors allow an exercise session to be monitored in real time anywhere with internet access.

This approach has previously been proven to be effective for people with heart disease, but NBCF-funded researcher Dr Camille Short will be researching how it can be used effectively with women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer.