The
ABC Research Team is based at the Middlesex Hospital
in London - part of University College London Hospitals
- and is funded by Against Breast Cancer (ABC).
The
ABC programme is looking at secondary spread, when
cancer cells travel from the breast to other, often
vital, parts of the body to form additional cancers.
Through our work we want to improve the care, treatment
and survival rates of women with, and at risk of the
disease. Our work is a unique combination of
the following research:
Diet and Lifestyle
Much
of the advice currently given out about diet and cancer
is unproven. The ABC Diet and Lifestyle co-ordinators
are leading a ten year study to find scientific evidence
about what foods, exercise and other lifestyle factors
affect the progress of breast cancer. The ABC Study
involves looking at the diet and lifestyle of women
with breast cancer by asking them to fill out questionnaires
and give samples of things such as blood and urine.
We then track their progress over a period of at least
five years. We aim eventually to provide proven
advice on how changing your diet and lifestyle can
improve your chances of surviving breast cancer.
Biochemistry
ABC
Biochemists are examining how breast cancer cells
are made up in order to understand why some cancers
spread and others do not. The ABC biochemists
are studying complex sugars that they suspect play
an important role in the spread of breast cancer.
Early work has suggested that these sugars, which
are found in human cells, could play a part in the
development of cancer cells. Continuing work involves
closer examination of complex sugars to see whether
they can be used as a way of either detecting the
disease.
Immunology
ABC
Immunologists are looking at the possibilities for
finding a vaccine against breast cancer. ABC
researchers believe that some sufferers may have a
natural immunity to the disease, which keeps the growth
of cancer cells in check. If true, this could
help all future sufferers. ABC research has
already shown that whose cancer has spread to other
parts of the body have low levels of natural immunity.
We are now looking at how a person’s own immunity
could be stimulated to fight secondary spread.
http://www.aabc.org.uk
