$2.5 million ACRF grant to revolutionise early detection for women at very high risk of breast cancer

Brisbane researchers have been awarded a $2.5 million grant from Australian Cancer Research Foundation (ACRF) to establish the ACRF Centre for High-Risk Breast Cancer Research, in collaboration with Princess Alexandra Hospital and Griffith University, which will benefit from world-leading diagnostic technology that can detect warning chemical changes in breast tissue years before cancer appears. 

For the thousands of Australian women at high genetic risk of breast cancer, this breakthrough technology has the potential to act as a real-time risk predictor: helping to identify exactly who may be susceptible and who may safely avoid preventative surgery or strong medication. The non-invasive, contrast-free scan could also offer an alternative for measuring breast density in women who may not be able to tolerate standard contrast agents. 

The clinic will run national clinical trials for best managing women at risk for breast cancer. The goal is to make this lifesaving early-detection system available across Australia and internationally. Scans will also be offered to patients to assess the risk of ovarian cancer. 

Kerry Strydom, CEO of Australian Cancer Research Foundation, said this technology will bring clarity, control and, above all, hope and comfort to women in Australia. 

“Every year more than 20,000 Australians are diagnosed with breast cancer and over 3,300 lives are lost. The ACRF Centre for High-Risk Breast Cancer has the potential to make a significant impact on these numbers. For the first time, women at the highest genetic risk, and those at no apparent risk,  will have a tool that tells them exactly when cancer is a risk of becoming likely, not just possible, giving them the chance to potentially stop the disease before it starts. This is prevention in its most powerful form, and we are proud to make it possible.” 

Professor Carolyn Mountford from Griffith University’s Institute for Biomedicine and Glycomics said: “Our goal was to eradicate breast and ovarian cancer by identifying changes in the tissue at a time the woman can have successful treatment.” 

“It has taken more than thirty years to come to fruition,” Professor Mountford said. 

“It is bench to bedside at its most successful with a multidisciplinary dedicated team. 

“For more than ten years we correctly predicted 32/32 out of more than 400 women who would develop a cancer on average four years ahead of standard methods, with others under watch.  

“Compliance approvals are the next challenge. “ 

The National Breast Cancer Foundation and Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation have also committed additional funding support to resource the centre.  

National Breast Cancer Foundation CEO, Dr Cleola Anderiesz, said, “We are proud to support the Australian Cancer Research Foundation and co-fund this initiative alongside the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation. At the National Breast Cancer Foundation, we remain committed to our vision of Zero Deaths from breast cancer. Every research project we support powers progress – turning vision into action and action into lives saved.” 

Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation CEO, Robin Penty added, “The OCRF is proud to be collaboratively funding this project that crucially facilitates innovative technology to accelerate outcomes across two cancers that disproportionally affect women, including ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer remains the most lethal gynaecological cancer, therefore identifying those at the highest risk of developing the disease at pre-cancerous stages with Professor Mountford’s state-of-the-art approach, truly has potential to transform survival statistics.”