Problem
A new type of anti-cancer drug called CDK-inhibitors has become available and is funded in New Zealand for certain breast cancer patients. These drugs are powerful, but only one-third of patients actually respond to them. Right now, there is no way to know which patients will benefit from this treatment.

Project
We found that a protein called p16, which CDK-inhibitors replace, can turn into an inactive form similar to structures seen in some brain diseases. Current medical tests can't tell the difference between the active and inactive forms of p16. In this project, we will test breast cancer samples for the inactive form of p16 to see if it potentially predicts treatment success.

Outcome
If we can reliably identify this inactive form of p16, it could help us predict which patients will respond well to CDK-inhibitors, allowing for more effective treatment.

Future
This work could lead to a simple test to determine if patients will benefit from CDK-inhibitors and could eventually help expand the use of these drugs for other types of cancer.

Project Update
p16 is a protein that helps keep cell growth under control. This research found that, under certain conditions, p16 can change shape and lose its ability to function properly - a discovery that could improve our understanding of how some cancers develop and potentially lead to new ways of detecting and treating the disease.

This breakthrough could pave the way for new biomarkers that identify when the body's natural cancer-fighting proteins are no longer working as they should, supporting earlier detection, more accurate diagnosis and, ultimately, better treatment outcomes for patients.