Cancer
Scientists hail ‘new ways’ to improve breast cancer treatment
Scientists from the University of Sharjah say they have good news for breast cancer patients, particularly those afflicted with the most aggressive types of the malignant tumor known as triple-negative breast cancer.
The study, published in the European Journal of Pharmacology, provides “new ways for the treatment of the special type of breast cancer called the triple-negative breast cancer,” according to the research’s corresponding author, Prof. Raafat El-Awady.
Triple-negative breast cancers are more aggressive than other forms of breast cancer as they tend to grow and spread quickly, have limited treatment options and show resistance to available therapies.
“Our research has found that high HDAC6 levels lower the amount of progesterone receptors, making breast cancer cells less responsive to hormonal therapies,” Prof. El-Awady, a pharmacologist, adds.
“The implications of our research could extend beyond the lab, offering hope for more effective treatment options in the battle against aggressive breast cancer.”
HDAC6 or histone deacetylase 6 influence a broad range of signaling pathways and cellular processes in cancer cells involving response of cancer cells to therapeutics, and cancer metastasis, or development of malignant growth beyond the tumor’s primary site, while hormone receptors, like the estrogen and progesterone, cause the growth of only some types of breast cancers, which are hormone dependent.
But when these receptors do not function properly, according to Prof. El-Awady, breast cancer patients often struggle to respond to common hormonal therapies, leaving them with limited treatment options.
Prof. El-Awady described triple-breast cancer as “a type (of cancer) that lacks these hormone receptors and is aggressive and hard to treat. Hormone receptors, like the estrogen and progesterone receptors, play a significant role in how breast cancer grows and responds to treatments.
“When these receptors are not expressed or do not function properly, breast cancer patients often struggle to respond to common hormonal therapies, leaving them with limited treatment options.”
The main practical goal of the research is to identify a new therapeutic strategy to enhance the sensitivity of aggressive breast cancer cells to hormonal therapies, and the authors highlight HDAC6 as a potential therapeutic target, demonstrating how inhibiting this protein can restore progesterone receptor levels and potentially reverse resistance to hormonal treatments.
“By shedding light on the role of HDAC6, we aimed to provide insights that could pave the way for developing more effective treatments for patients, particularly those with challenging breast cancer subtypes that are difficult to treat,” says Prof. El-Awady.
The scientists claim that one best way to combat triple-negative cancer is by using a medicine with the ability to stop HDAC6, a process that can lead to a surge in the levels of progesterone receptors.
“By using a drug that blocks HDAC6, we were able to boost the levels of progesterone receptors in breast cancer that were previously lacked it. This change made the breast cancer cells more sensitive to common hormonal therapies.
“These findings suggest that targeting HDAC6 could enhance the effects of hormonal therapies, offering a new hope for patients, particularly those with aggressive types like the triple-negative breast cancer, which is typically aggressive and more difficult to treat,” Prof. El-Awady added.
Statistics show that breast cancer is the most prevalent type of cancer among women worldwide, with 2,296,840 new cases of breast cancer in 2022.
Dr. Wafaa Ramadan, a molecular medicine specialist and the study’s first author, said the research stands out in its discovery that high levels of HDAC6 are linked to low amounts of the progesterone receptors in tissues of breast cancer patients.
“This indicates that the presence of active HDAC6 leads to a reduction or loss of the progesterone receptors with subsequent resistance to anti-progesterone therapies.
“Most importantly, we found that by blocking HDAC6, breast cancer cells became more sensitive to hormonal therapies. This is especially important for types of breast cancer that are more challenging to treat like the triple negative breast cancer.”
The research, says Dr. Burcu Ilce, a specialist in bioinformatics and functional genomics and a co-author, opens up new ways for breast cancer treatment strategies.
“By understanding the role of HDAC6 in hormone receptor regulation, we can potentially develop targeted therapies that enhance the effectiveness of existing treatments.
“This approach is crucial for patients who may not respond to standard hormonal therapies, as it offers a new avenue for tackling their disease.
“Consequently, targeting HDAC6 could lead to better treatment outcomes, reduced resistance to therapies, and improved survival rates for patients with challenging forms of breast cancer.” Prof. Maha Saber-Ayad, a Clinical Pharmacologist and a co-author, adds.
The scientists say they hope for their findings to significantly advance personalised cancer therapy, offering new hopes for patients with limited treatment options.
“Given the growing focus on targeted cancer therapies and epigenetic drugs, it is likely that pharmaceutical companies and biotech firms could be interested in further exploring the development and clinical testing of HDAC6-targeted therapies,” said Varsha Menon, a co-author and research assistant.
“This interest could open the door to strategic partnerships that would accelerate the translation of our research into impactful therapies for breast cancer patients, particularly those with hormone receptor-negative or resistant tumours.”
Prof. El-Awady notes that once the research findings are translated into clinical practice by targeting HDAC6, “they could enhance treatment outcomes for patients with hormone receptor-negative breast cancer.
“By restoring or increasing hormone receptor expression, this approach could provide new therapeutic options, improving treatment efficacy and potentially increasing survival rates for patients who currently have limited responses to conventional hormonal therapies”.
Added Prof. Iman Talaat, a clinical pathologist and a co-author.
“We are excited about the possibility that our work related to targeting HDAC6 could lead to breakthroughs in how we treat breast cancer, giving hope to patients who may have limited treatment options.”
Only one per cent of women can name all five gynaecological cancers, new research suggests, as 21 women in the UK die every day of the diseases.
The report also found that 31 per cent of women have put off or avoided seeking medical advice for gynaecological symptoms.
It also found that 43 per cent of women invited for cervical screening said barriers had put them off attending, while 18 per cent of respondents aged 25 to 34 who had been invited had never attended.
The five main gynaecological cancers are womb, also called uterine, ovarian, cervical, vulval and vaginal cancer.
The Lady Garden Foundation said that, while progress has been made since the UK government’s 2022 Women’s Health Strategy aimed to improve gynaecological cancer care, significant challenges remain.
John Butler, medical director and trustee at the Lady Garden Foundation, said: “The fact that only one per cent of the population can name the diseases that directly affect half of us underscores a significant awareness gap, impacting individuals’ ability to recognise vital signs and symptoms or seek timely medical help.
“Addressing this isn’t just about awareness; it’s a critical public health priority. Our collective efforts are essential to ensure the latest commitments announced by this government translate into tangible change that saves lives.”
The report said key reasons for delaying medical advice included difficulty making appointments, embarrassment and, for cervical screening, fear of pain or previous bad experiences.
Women also reported challenges within healthcare interactions, including feeling “not taken seriously”, “dismissed” or “not believed” when seeking gynaecological advice.
Jenny Halpern Prince, chief executive and charity co-founder, said: “We frequently hear reports of women feeling ‘not taken seriously,’ ‘dismissed,’ or ‘not believed’ when seeking gynaecological advice.
“These experiences highlight crucial areas where we can improve patient support and trust within our healthcare system, ensuring women receive the empathetic and effective care they need.”
The Lady Garden Foundation said it aims to increase awareness of both the charity and the five gynaecological cancers.
It also aims to serve as a primary entry point for reliable, stigma-free information, helping people understand their bodies, recognise symptoms and overcome barriers to accessing care.
Its Silent No More Garden was unveiled at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2026. Designed by Darren Hawkes, the garden serves as a national call to action, using five sculptures to spark conversations, break long-standing taboos and encourage open dialogue about symptoms and preventative care.
Butler said: “Continued focus and collaborative action are essential to progress.
“The ongoing commitment from the government, alongside societal efforts to break down taboos surrounding gynaecological health, are crucial.
“The Lady Garden Foundation is dedicated to being a beacon of information and support, empowering women with the knowledge they need. We urge everyone to learn the signs, speak up, and help us save lives.”
AI could transform ovarian care by personalising cancer and fertility treatment, but more clinical validation is needed before routine use.
A systematic review and meta-analysis found AI models showed high diagnostic accuracy for ovarian cancer when combining data such as ultrasound scans and blood test results.
Across 81 studies, AI models correctly identified ovarian cancer in around nine out of 10 cases, with pooled rates of 89 to 94 per cent.
They were also highly accurate at ruling out ovarian cancer when it was not present, with specificity of 85 to 91 per cent.
The analysis also found that explainable AI tools could predict complete surgical cytoreduction in advanced ovarian cancer.
Complete surgical cytoreduction means removing all visible cancer during surgery, which can be an important goal in treatment planning.
The tools achieved a pooled AUC of 0.87. AUC is a measure of how well a model distinguishes between different outcomes, with higher scores showing stronger performance.
In reproductive medicine, AI algorithms helped physicians optimise ovarian stimulation protocols and predict follicular growth during IVF.
Ovarian stimulation is the use of hormones to encourage the ovaries to produce eggs, while follicles are the small sacs in the ovaries where eggs develop.
The review found AI could reliably model ovarian response in IVF with a pooled AUC of 0.81.
However, researchers said challenges remain in translating promising research findings into routine clinical practice.
They identified substantial variation across studies, driven by retrospective study designs, variable AI systems and a lack of standardised validation.
Only 22 per cent of analysed studies reported prospective, multicentre external validation, where models are tested forward in time across multiple healthcare settings.
The authors called for rigorous validation to help close the gap between research and routine clinical practice, alongside standardised methodological and reporting frameworks, smooth integration with clinical workflow and robust governance to support responsible and ethical AI use.
They concluded: “Artificial intelligence is a transformative force in the management of ovarian conditions.
“In gynaecologic oncology, AI enhances every phase of care, from early detection and accurate diagnosis to prognostic stratification and surgical planning.”
In reproductive medicine, AI personalises ovarian stimulation and refines the diagnosis of heterogenous endocrine disorders such as PCOS.
PCOS, or polycystic ovary syndrome, is a hormonal condition that can affect periods, skin, weight and fertility.
Femtech World is delighted to reveal the shortlist for this year’s Women’s Cancer Innovation award.
The award, sponsored by Endomag, will honour a groundbreaking innovation dedicated to the prevention, early detection treatment or ongoing care of cancers that uniquely or disproportionately affect women.
Endomag is a medical technology company devoted to improving the global standard of cancer care.
Its Sentimag system, Magseed marker and Magtrace lymphatic tracer are used by thousands of the world’s leading physicians and cancer centres.
After careful review of this year’s submissions, we are delighted to announce the three shortlisted entries for the Women’s Cancer Innovation Award 2026.
Auria is tackling one of the most stubborn problems in breast cancer screening: the 66 per cent of women who simply don’t participate.
Rather than improving existing imaging pathways, Auria is creating an entirely new access layer: a non-invasive, at-home test that detects protein biomarkers for breast cancer in tears.
Auria’s test, a CLIA-certified Lab Developed Test, has been validated across more than 2,000 patients in multiple clinical studies with collaborators including MD Anderson Cancer Center and Stanford University.
It reports a sensitivity of 93 per cent and a negative predictive value of 98 per cent.
Founded on six years of combined research at the University of Barcelona and UC Irvine, The Blue Box has developed a non-invasive, urine-based test that detects breast cancer by analysing volatile organic compound (VOC) signatures – no radiation, no compression, no imaging facility required.
The test achieves a sensitivity of 88.42 per cent, outperforming mammography by 15 per cent overall, and by 30 per cent specifically in women with dense breasts.
The technology could function as a first-line screening tool in primary care settings, as a complement to mammography for high-density patients, or as an accessible alternative in healthcare systems where imaging infrastructure is limited.
Celbrea is a disposable and affordable thermal screening device that empowers women of all ages to stay on top of monitoring their breast health.
The device aims to add to doctors’ existing standard evaluation protocols with a quick, painless examination. Celbrea does not replace a mammogram but simply provides an additional way to screen for breast disease, including breast cancer.
The device consisting of two disposable pads with photochromic sensors. The pads are self-applied to each breast for 15 minutes.
1188 nano-sensors are embedded within a biocompatible multilayer pad, accurately measuring any temperature differences on the surface of the breast using liquid crystal thermographic technology.
What happens next
The shortlisted entries will now be judge by an Endomag representative who will reveal the winner at a virtual awards event on June 19.
Winners will receive a trophy and will be interviewed by a Femtech World journalist.
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