University of Galway leads International Research Project for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Treatment
Photo Martina Regan
By Ananda Patrasco
Yesterday researchers at the University of Galway commenced their lead on the international research project, exploring innovative therapeutics to target one of the most a hostile and challenging cancers that affect women – Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC).
The project is led by Sharon Glynn, Fulbright Scholar and Professor in Pathology at University of Galway and is devoted to developing new therapeutics for the treatment of Triple Negative Breast Cancer, that affects around 10-15% of women diagnosed with breast cancer.
This project is supported by the 2.7 million euro Horizon Europe grant funding from the European Research Executive Agency.
This cancer is highly aggressive and difficult to treat as it lacks hormone receptors which makes targeted therapies ineffective. As a result of this, treatment options for women with this disease are limited to surgery and chemotherapy.
Professor Glynn, who has made remarkable advancements in the understanding of TNBC, through her 15 years of dedicated research said: “My team and I have been working to find new ways to treat TNBC, including the discovery of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) levels predicting poor outcomes in hormone receptor-negative breast cancer.
Women whose tumour had high levels of iNOS were five times more likely to die from breast cancer than those who had low levels providing us with a new therapeutic opportunity.
This project will take two approaches to target nitric oxide, one which can trigger cell death and tumour regression, and the second, by targeting blood flow and tumour vasculature.”
The research team is a collaboration between the University of Galway; CÚRAM- the Science Foundation Ireland Research Centre for Medical Devices; University of Seville, Luxembourg, Udine, Sienna; Trinity College Dublin; EPHE-PSL; Danish Cancer Institute; ISOF-CNR; Saolta University Health Care Group; Galway Clinic; Houston Methodist Hospital and other international partners.
