Queen’s researchers receive grant from Breast Cancer Now to search for new treatments

Researchers at Queen’s University Belfast have received funding from Breast Cancer Now to search for new treatments inspired by COVID-19 vaccine innovation.

The research team will adapt lessons from the development of COVID-19 vaccines in the hunt for new treatments for an aggressive form of breast cancer.

Dr Niamh Buckley and Professor Helen McCarthy from the School of Pharmacy secured a £228,900 grant from Breast Cancer Now to tackle protein p53 – which is found at very high levels in around 90% of triple negative breast cancer tumors.

They will use mRNA – a molecule that provides temporary instructions to create proteins in cells – to target breast cancer cells with high levels of p53. This echoes a similar approach taken by Moderna and Pfizer scientists who deployed mRNA in the development of their COVID-19 vaccines.

Around 15% of breast cancers are classed as triple negative but there are currently few targeted treatments. Triple negative breast cancer is more likely than most other breast cancers to return or spread during the first years following successful treatment.

Dr Buckley said: “This grant from Breast Cancer Now will allow us to exploit the promising new research routes highlighted by the innovative science behind the COVID-19 vaccines to search for new treatments for breast cancer.

“Scientists must investigate what to include in the vaccine to trigger the right immune response, and that depends on the part of the virus or cell they need to target. For the COVID-19 vaccine this was the ‘spike protein’. In our work we are targeting p53, which can mutate and cause triple negative breast cancer – and many other types of tumors. The p53 protein is often present in very high levels in each cancer cell, and this is why we think it will be a good target.

“We hope to develop an mRNA vaccine that will help the immune system to recognize, hunt down and destroy cancer cells with p53 mutations. This would ultimately provide patients with an important new treatment option.”

While scientists adapted vaccine technology to find new cancer treatments before the pandemic, they now have a much better understanding about how to use mRNA more effectively. mRNA also leaves the body much more quickly than DNA, another advantage in vaccine development.

As the mutated p53 protein is found in unusually high levels in at least half of all cancer types, it’s possible the research could be used more widely. This could lead to treatments for other types of breast cancer and other cancers – with relatively low development costs because much of the groundwork will have been laid.

When the pandemic hit, Breast Cancer Now was concerned about how it would affect its ability to support research but, thanks to the incredible generosity of its supporters, the charity is funding 11 new research projects in 2022.

The pandemic was a devasting global health emergency which had a particularly significant impact on people with cancer symptoms and those already receiving treatment. However, it also brought the breakthrough development of the COVID-19 vaccines and it’s exciting we can now capitalize on the brilliant science behind them to expand the limited targeted treatments available to treat this aggressive type of breast cancer.

Each year, around 8,000 UK women are diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer and it’s vital we find new and effective ways to treat this devastating disease, which is why it’s so important we’re backing innovative research like this.”

Dr Simon Vincent, Director of Research, Support and Influencing at Breast Cancer Now

Jade Townsend, a mother of two who twice recovered from triple negative breast cancer before the age of 31, praised the “absolutely brilliant” NHS staff who cared for her but found chemotherapy particularly grueling.

Jade said: “It was absolutely horrendous juggling chemotherapy with caring for two small children during the pandemic. However, I was incredibly fortunate my treatment was successful. It would be brilliant if this research helps to deliver new treatments and results in fewer women having to undergo the intense chemotherapy I went through.”