Breast cancer occurs when abnormal, cancerous cells in the breast tissue multiply and form a tumour. If undetected, these cells can spread to other parts of the body.
Researchers believe there may be up to 10 different sub-types of breast cancer, each of which responds differently to treatment. Through its work at The Kinghorn Cancer Centre, our researchers use Garvan’s cutting-edge technologies to tailor treatment plans to individual patients and drive discovery research.
For more information about breast cancer, visit HealthDirect.
Breast cancer research at Garvan
Garvan is home to one of the largest breast cancer research groups in Australia, conducting leading research on disease progression and the development of new treatments. Whole-genome sequencing facilities at Garvan allow breast cancer research teams to define the genetic characteristic of breast tumours. Using this information, they can identify the most effective course of treatment for each patient. In addition, researchers examine how cancers become resistant to treatment. This allows them to develop ways to overcome this and make cancers susceptible to therapies.
The Kinghorn Cancer Centre brings together clinicians and researchers from St Vincent’s Hospital and Garvan to provide state-of-the-art breast cancer patient care and to give patients access to a suite of clinical trials. Our multidisciplinary teams include experts from across the health and medical sectors, working together to translate research discoveries into world-class patient care.