Young woman's cancer journey inspires research

Carine, now 32, was diagnosed with breast cancer during her pregnancy. She had to have an abortion and is now involved in the association Jeune & Rose, which supports young women affected by breast cancer. Her experience highlights the growing concern of breast cancer in younger women.

Rising breast cancer rates in young women

In France, over 3,000 women under the age of 40 are diagnosed with breast cancer each year, a number that has doubled since 20 years ago. This increase is concerning because breast cancer in younger women tends to be more aggressive, though the exact reasons are not yet fully understood.

Artemis project aims to study tumor plasticity

Vincent Guen, a biologist at Inserm, is leading the Artemis project at the Nantes-Angers Center for Integrated Cancer Research and Immunology. Funded by the Ruban Rose association with 250,000 euros, the project plans to last at least five years and focuses on understanding how cancer cells in young women can adapt and become more aggressive.

Understanding cancer cell adaptability

Vincent Guen explains that cancer cells in young women may have greater "plasticity," meaning they can change their behavior and adapt to their environment. This ability allows some cancer cells to resist treatments and resume growth after therapy is stopped. The goal is to identify the mechanisms behind this adaptability to improve treatment strategies.

Analyzing tumor samples in the lab

A team of around ten researchers, engineers, and clinicians is working on 80 tumor samples from young women, provided by the West Cancer Institute (ICO). The initial focus is on hormone-dependent cancers, which are the most common, with future plans to study the more challenging "triple-negative" cancers.

Advanced technology for tumor analysis

In the laboratory, bioinformatics doctoral student Chloé Grivaud uses a state-of-the-art spatial biology device to analyze tumor fragments. This device detects multiple proteins simultaneously, helping to identify markers of cancer aggressiveness and their interactions with immune cells.

Creating 3D tumor models for study

Researchers like Éloïse Grasset use in vitro models called "organoids" to study tumor aggressiveness. These tiny three-dimensional models, grown from patient samples, allow scientists to observe how cancer cells move and identify proteins that could be targets for new therapies.

Testing molecules to combat cancer

Doctoral student Camille Tessier tests molecules on organoids to see if they can eliminate cancer cells or make them responsive to therapy again. Engineer Steven Nedellec uses a robotic arm connected to a microscope to automatically photograph cells every six hours, tracking their response to different treatments.

Progress and challenges in the research

While the Artemis project is still in its early stages, Camille Tessier notes that promising molecules are far from becoming drugs. Despite this, Carine, who is not part of the Artemis cohort, feels hopeful about the progress in improving treatments. She has recently stopped her hormone therapy and plans to have a child next year.