In the trial, 39 participants received chemotherapy followed by olaparib, with only one relapse and zero deaths reported in the three years after surgery…
A clinical trial led by Cambridge University researchers has shown groundbreaking results in the treatment of aggressive, inherited breast cancers, with a 100% survival rate among patients who received a new pre-surgery drug protocol.
The study, published in Nature Communications, combined chemotherapy with the targeted drug olaparib, given in a precisely timed sequence.
BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations, known to sharply increase cancer risk, are often found in younger patients and are notoriously difficult to treat.
In the trial, 39 participants received chemotherapy followed by olaparib, with only one relapse and zero deaths reported in the three years after surgery—a critical period when recurrence is most likely.
“It is rare to have a 100% survival rate in a study like this and for these aggressive types of cancer,” said lead researcher Professor Jean Abraham. By allowing a 48-hour gap between treatments, researchers believe they improved patient outcomes while reducing treatment toxicity.
The control group, which received chemotherapy alone, had an 88% survival rate. Researchers plan a larger study to confirm findings and explore applications in other BRCA-related cancers, including ovarian and prostate.
The approach could mark a major shift in treating genetic cancers with more targeted, cost-effective care.