The BRC spoke with Dr Rebecca Roylance, Consultant Medical Oncologist at UCLH about treatments, trends and the future for breast cancer research on Breast Cancer Awareness Day.
Tell us about yourself as a researcher/clinician and how you became interested in breast cancer research?
I did a PhD at Imperial Cancer Research Fund (now Cancer Research UK) investigating the genetics of breast cancer. I had wanted to do a laboratory based project and at the time my focus on breast cancer was rather accidental. However, I became fascinated by the science and continued basic research while completing my specialist oncology training. When I took up my consultant post I continued with similar research but over the years I have become much more focused on clinical trials, and using new agents in the management of breast cancer. I am often heard saying “breast cancer is the most interesting of all the different cancers!”!
What is breast cancer and how does it develop?
Breast cancer, like all cancers, is the result of a normal cell acquiring genetic changes that lead it to divide and grow in an uncontrolled way. Once there are a group of these abnormal cells they can then begin to spread within the organ it has developed in and around the body. Some women will have a genetic predisposition to cancer while for others there is no obvious cause although we know some factors that increase breast cancer risk.
Are there specific scientific developments and/or technologies that have made your research possible?
The huge advances in genetic technology leading us to understand much more about the different subtypes of breast cancer. We know now there are at least 10 different molecular subtypes which are likely to require different treatments.
What are the biggest opportunities for new treatments? What targets are the new therapies focused on?
The biggest opportunities for new treatments will be to target therapies more precisely to an individuals’ specific cancer. While we have specific targets for some cancers, for example the HER2 receptor and drugs such as Herceptin, there are other types of cancer like triple negative breast cancer that does not have any specific therapeutic targets at present. New agents are also focused on trying to improve outcomes in combination with existing drugs.
How can patients and the public help researchers discover more about breast cancer?
Donating to tissue banks after surgery, or any biopsy, for scientific research is hugely important. By taking part in clinical trials, always ask the doctors treating you if there is an appropriate clinical trial for you and if not then ask if you can be referred to another centre where there may be trials on offer. You may get a new treatment that works, that you would not get outside the trial, you may also be helping to improve cancer treatment for future patients. The only way we know what are our current best treatments are by the results of previous clinical trials.
What does the future hold for breast cancer research?
Survival from breast cancer has increased over the last 40 years, which is really encouraging, but there is still much to be done.
Where can I find out about clinical trials for breast cancer at UCLH?
View the ‘Find a Study’ database, a search engine that has details of all clinical trials currently recruiting at UCLH. Visitors can search for by condition using a drop down list or enter key words.
