Problem

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a type of breast cancer that makes up about 20% of all cases. It often spreads quickly, especially to the brain, which can seriously lower a patient’s quality of life and lifespan. Once TNBC reaches the brain, treatment options are limited and usually only offer a small improvement.

Project

Our research focuses on the BARD1 gene, which normally helps cells work correctly. But in some TNBC patients, certain BARD1 gene changes increase the chances of cancer spreading to the brain. We will use advanced gene-editing tools and DNA analysis to figure out which specific BARD1 changes cause this risk.

Outcome

By identifying which patients have high-risk BARD1 changes, we hope to catch brain metastasis early or even prevent it, giving patients a better chance at a longer, healthier life.

Future

This research could lead to better ways to identify and treat high-risk TNBC patients and improve our overall understanding of how cancer spreads.

Project Update

This study looked at a gene called BARD1 to understand whether changes in it could help explain why a type of breast cancer called triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is often more aggressive and harder to treat. TNBC has fewer targeted treatment options than other breast cancers and is more likely to come back or spread.

Researchers found that changes in BARD1 do play a role in a small group of TNBC cases and can be linked to faster-growing tumours. However, the results were complex - in some cases, higher BARD1 activity was also linked to stronger immune responses and better outcomes, showing that the immune system may also affect how the cancer behaves.

Although the findings don’t change treatment right now, they give scientists important new clues about how TNBC works and could help improve future testing, risk prediction and more personalised treatments.