Our unique approach
The Against Breast Cancer Research team is based in the Department of Gynaecological Cancer at University College London (UCL).
Here our biochemists are carrying out innovative research into how to increase survival after diagnosis and, eventually, find a vaccine against breast cancer. We believe our approach to breast cancer is unique as we look at the whole woman: her tumour, her response to the tumour and her environment through three interlinked areas of research:
Biochemistry - preventing secondary spread
Our investigations into why cancer cells travel to other parts of the body and how this can be prevented is groundbreaking in the field of breast cancer research.
Immunology - seeking a vaccine
Against Breast Cancer's research shows that breast cancer patients have lower levels of natural immunity. We are studying how we can stimulate their immunity to fight cancer spread.
Diet and lifestyle
Our ongoing DietCompLyf diet and lifestyle study of 3,000 breast cancer patients in 55 hospitals across the UK will help establish how diet, lifestyle and complementary treatments affect the spread of breast cancer.
Move to the Institute of Women's Health
In February 2010 we moved from UCL's Department of Surgery to the Department of Gynaecological Cancer in the Institute for Women's Health which offers us state-of-the-art facilities for investigating cancer biomarkers; access to a wide range of cancer-relevant expertise; and an infrastructure that supports large clinical cancer studies like DietCompLyf.
Head of research
Louiza Velentzis is our Head of Research, appointed in July 2009 by the Trustees of Against Breast Cancer on the recommendation of The Dean of UCL, Professor Ian Jacobs and with the full support of Anthony and Patricia Leathem and the whole Against Breast Cancer team. Louiza was originally a biochemist and as Head of the Breast Cancer Research Group now heads up the clinical trials, reporting weekly to the Dean.
Collaborative research
At the Institute for Women's Health our team will be able to collaborate on groundbreaking world-class work showing how external influences on DNA affect the development of cancer. We have access to superb equipment and expertise for protein analysis, which, combined with our glycobiology background, make possible exciting collaborations that will accelerate development of new cancer markers.
Recent publications by Dr Anthony Leathem, Louiza Velentzis and Simon Fry from the UCL Breast Cancer Research Team
Lignans and breast cancer risk in pre- and post-menopausal women: meta-analyses of observational studies. Velentzis LS, Cantwell MM, Cardwell C, Keshtgar MR, Leathem AJ, Woodside JV.Br J Cancer. 2009 May 5;100(9):
1492-8.
Do phytoestrogens reduce the risk of breast cancer and breast cancer recurrence? What clinicians need to know. Velentzis LS, Woodside JV, Cantwell MM, Leathem AJ,Keshtgar MR.Eur J Cancer. 2008 Sep;44(13):1799-806.
Altered glycosylation of proteins in cancer: what is the potential for new anti-tumour strategies. Brooks SA, Carter TM, Royle L, Harvey DJ, Fry SA, Kinch C, Dwek RA, Rudd PM.Anticancer Agents Med Chem. 2008 Jan;8(1):2-21.
Cancer-associated glycoforms of gelatinase B exhibit a decreased level of binding to galectin-3. (SA, Van den Steen PE, Royle L, Wormald MR, Leathem AJ, Opdenakker G, McDonnell JM, Dwek RA, Rudd PM. Biochemistry. 2006 Dec 26;45(51):15249-58).
Differential glycosylation of gelatinase B from neutrophils and breast cancer cells (SA, Van den Steen PE, Royle L, Wormald MR, Leathem AJ, Opdenakker G, Rudd PM, Dwek RA. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2005;5 .
