Breast cancer research: University of Graz team works on precise diagnoses

Lena Bauernhofer and Sandro Keller do research on better diagnostic methods for breast cancer

Regarding breast cancer, early and accurate diagnosis is crucial for successful treatment. A team from the University of Graz has developed a new approach to measure the concentration of a protein molecule hormone that promotes the growth of carcinomas. Building on this, research is to be conducted into new diagnostic methods in order to develop better treatment concepts. For this, the team was awarded the Breast Cancer Research Prize of the Österreichische Krebshilfe.

At the Pink Ribbon Gala of the Österreichische Krebshilfe on 26 September 2023 in the Parliament, the Breast Cancer Research Award was presented to Sandro Keller, head of the Membrane Biophysics team at the Institute of Molecular Biosciences at the University of Graz. Rector Peter Riedler congratulates the scientists on this extraordinary achievement. "The prize makes visible the importance of fundamental research, which is the basis for all medical progress."

The research prize of 100,000 euros will enable the young researcher Lena Bauernhofer to work on her dissertation on refining the diagnostics of breast cancer so that affected women can receive the appropriate treatment even faster.

This involves the protein "HER2", which occurs disproportionately in some women and accelerates the spread of carcinomas. "We want to develop a method to count these protein molecules and determine their activity," Bauernhofer explains.

Precisely coordinating immunotherapy and chemotherapy

The background: Antibodies are already available today that block this protein and thus stop the growth of breast cancer. If the protein is detected in the tissue test, a gentle treatment with antibodies therefore starts. "However, this medication is only effective in less than half of the women affected," explains Keller, a biophysicist. Therefore, chemotherapy is often started afterwards, which the affected patients could have benefited from at an earlier stage.

The goal of the research is therefore to recognise as early as possible whether common immune treatments are sufficient for patients. "In this way, we can recommend an effective therapy to severely affected women more quickly and at the same time spare patients with milder forms of breast cancer a stressful chemotherapy," says Keller. It may also be possible to develop individualised antibodies to help those women who have not responded to current therapies with a gentler combination treatment.

In a first step, the young researcher Bauernhofer wants to develop a method in her dissertation starting in February, with which the protein HER2 can be counted in biopsy samples. The results are then to be incorporated into new diagnostic procedures which, after sufficient testing, could arrive in medicine in five to ten years.

Roman Vilgut

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