Immunology: Patient response

"First we need to identify the targets for our magic bullets and then we must increase our funding so we can progress our research."

Dr Anthony Leathem

Natural immunity

Our researchers are investigating the low level of natural immunity in breast cancer patients and how it can be stimulated to fight secondary spread of the disease.

Our research team believe that some patients have a natural immunity which eliminates cells dividing out of control and stops tumour formation. Such faulty cells are identified by the immune system because they bear glycans (sugars coating the outer surface of cells) which differ from those of normal cells.

Identifying markers
Although useful blood or urine chemical markers have been isolated for a handful of cancers, such as prostate and some forms of leukaemia, none has yet been found for breast cancers.

Our biochemists are identifying cancer 'markers' so that we can start developing new antibody therapies. These 'magic bullets' will target specific breast cancers.

Against Breast Cancer's research team use one of the largest collections of breast cancer patient samples in the UK to identify markers that can detect the re-appearance of breast cancer in women already treated for the disease.

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Against Breast Cancer is a registered charity in England and Wales. Registered Charity No. 1121258
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Against Breast Cancer
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