A groundbreaking new treatment strategy is shining a hopeful light on the future of patients grappling with aggressive, inherited breast cancer, according to an inspiring study.

This promising trial, spearheaded by Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge and published in Nature Communications, focused on women with early-stage breast cancer linked to BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations. The introduction of the targeted drug olaparib prior to surgery has shown remarkable potential in significantly reducing the likelihood of cancer recurrence.

If further clinical trials confirm these findings, more than 1,200 patients annually in the UK could enjoy the benefits of this innovative approach.

Jackie Van Bochoven, a 59-year-old from Cambridgeshire, embodies the positive impact of this research. With a family history of breast cancer and a BRCA1 gene mutation, Jackie faced a daunting diagnosis of an aggressive breast tumor in 2019. Participating in the trial brought her renewed hope.

"When I had the diagnosis, I was completely shocked," she recalls. "Six years on, I'm well and cancer-free. It's amazing." Jackie’s journey is particularly poignant as both her mother and sister battled breast cancer. She takes comfort in knowing that there is hope for her three daughters, especially for her eldest, Danielle, who also carries the BRCA gene mutation. "For my future generations, if they have got the BRCA gene, it is a new hope," Jackie expresses.

About one in 400 individuals carry mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes, with Cancer Research UK estimating that approximately 70% of women with these mutations will develop breast cancer, a stark contrast to one in seven women without them. Meanwhile, men with BRCA mutations face a lower risk of developing breast cancer.

Olaparib, the first targeted drug therapy for cancers associated with BRCA mutations, is administered in tablet form. It operates by inhibiting a protein called PARP, which prevents cancer cells from repairing their DNA, ultimately leading to their demise.

The trial, known as Partner, was conducted across 23 sites in England, Scotland, and Wales, involving 39 women with early-stage breast cancer. These women received olaparib, also referred to as Lynparza, alongside chemotherapy, beginning the olaparib tablets just 48 hours after each chemotherapy session. Remarkably, after three years, all participants were alive and thriving.

In comparison, among the 45 women who received chemotherapy alone without olaparib, there were six reported deaths, underscoring the effectiveness of the new regimen.

Prof. Jean Abraham, a consultant at Addenbrooke's and a professor at the University of Cambridge, who led the trial, described the results as "really exciting." She noted, "It is rare that you see 100% survival at 36 months for this subtype of breast cancer. We're incredibly excited about the potential of this new approach."

The implications of these findings extend beyond breast cancer, potentially benefiting other BRCA-related cancers such as ovarian, prostate, and pancreatic cancers. Prof. Abraham announced that a larger multinational trial is slated for next year, aiming to involve approximately 600 patients. If these results are confirmed, they could transform clinical practices for over 1,200 patients in the UK each year.

Currently, olaparib is prescribed for a year after surgery, but in the trial, patients took the tablets for just 12 weeks before surgery and at a reduced dose. Prof. Abraham highlighted the economic advantages as well, stating, "From a cost perspective, it would save the NHS a considerable amount of money because it's a fraction of the time and dose of the drug."

Michelle Mitchell, chief executive of Cancer Research UK, shared her enthusiasm: "While this research is still in its infancy, it is an exciting discovery that adding olaparib at a carefully-timed stage of treatment can potentially give patients with this specific type of breast cancer more time with their loved ones."

Though the trial primarily involved women, Prof. Abraham indicated that the positive results with olaparib would also be applicable to the smaller group of men with the BRCA mutation who develop breast cancer.

This promising trial was made possible through the generous support of Cancer Research UK, AstraZeneca, and the National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR) Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, along with the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Centre and Addenbrooke's Charitable Trust (ACT). The future looks bright for those affected by hereditary breast cancer, as this research continues to pave the way for improved treatments and hopeful outcomes.