Many readers may not be aware that the Waikato is an active centre for breast cancer research and we have our own dedicated research team, enabled by the Breast Cancer Research Trust (BCRT), who work alongside Waikato Hospital breast cancer staff from multiple specialties. Clinical trials are an essential part of our health system and are necessary to find out if new treatments are more effective than those currently accepted as the best available standard of care.
As we progress beyond 2022, clinical trials are individualising treatments more to the specific features of each different type of breast cancer. Breast cancer is now known to be multiple different types and treatment is tailored to the type of cancer, as well as the wishes of each woman diagnosed. For example, drug treatments are becoming more targeted to specific growth factors of a tumour. As technology develops there are specialised laboratory tests (e.g. genomic assays) which can examine multiple aspects of a tumour. The results of these tests will help guide oncology doctors to select future patients who will or won’t benefit from treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
We are participating in a trial called “EXPERT” to see if women who have a low risk of recurrence score on one of these genomic tests (PAM50 assay), may avoid the need for radiotherapy after breast conserving surgery.
Waikato Hospital has been a site for an international clinical trial (called the NEON trial) investigating whether an immunotherapy drug can help the body’s own immune system to fight cancer cells in women with a type of breast cancer called “triple-negative breast cancer”. The aim of the NEON trial was to determine if the drug was safe and effective in treating this type of breast cancer before surgery.
Hamilton woman Lisa (Ngāti Maniapoto) participated in the NEON Trial. When medical oncologist and BCRT Trustee Dr Marion Kuper approached Lisa about participating in the NEON clinical trial, she was immediately open to the idea. “I had nothing to lose. It wasn’t a hard sell”.
As a mother of three daughters and a grandmother to twin girls, Lisa’s journey brought an already tight knit family, even closer together. Participating in the clinical trial meant Lisa could contribute to improving the outcomes for future generations of women who are diagnosed with breast cancer.
As a participant in the clinical trial, Lisa felt taken care of through a personalised approach and supported by all of the medical team involved in her journey. “I got treated really well. All of the nurses were awesome and they made sure things happened when they needed to. They took great care of me.”
Lisa’s results speak for themselves. She received the immunotherapy drug preoperatively and following surgery, examination of tissue showed there were no remaining cancer cells. She now has a new lease on life after realising how fast it can be taken away.
“Women, especially Māori women with big whānau, are so quick to care for others before we care about ourselves. It is our own responsibility to take care of our own health.”
Lisa knows that these kinds of improvements to breast cancer treatments and outcomes need research to continue. “If things can be improved on, they should be. And that requires research. It is so important that the research continues, so the lives of women with breast cancer in the future can be improved.”
If you, or someone you know, are diagnosed with breast cancer you can ask your surgeon or oncologist if there is a clinical trial available for you.
