In France, researchers are tackling triple-negative breast cancer with a 7-year study, using advanced detection and personalized treatments to improve survival rates.
Breast cancer statistics in France
In France, approximately 60,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer annually, and 15% of these cases are classified as "triple negative," a rare and aggressive type that lacks three key biological receptors, making it unresponsive to standard hormonal and targeted therapies.Triple-negative breast cancer treatment
Patients with this form of cancer typically receive chemotherapy and immunotherapy. However, about 40% of these patients either do not respond adequately to treatment or develop resistance during their care, complicating their management.Cassiopeia research program
The Cassiopeia research program, launched in September 2022 as part of the France 2030 initiative with a budget of 9.96 million euros, was initially planned for five years but has been extended by two years due to promising early results. The program aims to investigate why some patients develop resistance to treatment, whether it is present from the start or emerges later.Multidisciplinary approach to research
The program involves a diverse team of oncologists, radiologists, anatomopathologists, bioinformaticians, and mathematicians. The Curie Institute, where the research is conducted, is noted for its ability to bring together such a wide range of expertise to study tumor cells and identify ways to tailor treatments more effectively.New detection technology
Cassiopeia is also exploring the use of a radio tracer called FAPI, originally developed in the United States, to detect tumors and metastases more precisely. This technology targets cells in the tumor microenvironment, including those in the supportive tissue, allowing for better identification of cancerous growths throughout the body.Importance of early diagnosis
Fatima Mechta-Grigoriou, the program’s director, stresses the importance of early diagnosis, noting that the five-year survival rate for triple-negative breast cancer is only 20%. She highlights that many women delay seeking care due to time constraints or lack of access to medical services.Patient advocacy and research support
Claude Coutier, founder of the Collectif Triplettes Roses, a French association focused on triple-negative breast cancer, was diagnosed with the disease in 2018. She established the group in 2021 after advocating for a drug approved in the United States but previously unavailable in France. The association supports research through the Triplettes Roses Prize, offering four annual awards of 30,000 euros each to projects targeting this specific form of cancer.
