A protein clue could tell which breast cancers will answer to a widely used drug

At Sydney's Garvan Institute of Medical Research, scientists studying biopsy samples from more than 400 patients with the most common form of breast cancer found that the activity of a protein called CDK1 rises as cancers grow more aggressive — and may predict which tumours will respond to a widely used family of drugs, the CDK4/6 inhibitors, and which will resist them. Published in Advanced Science, the finding needs testing in larger groups. If it holds, doctors could match the right drug to the right patient sooner, spare others a treatment that was never going to work, and aim new drugs at CDK1 itself.

SDG 3 · Good health and well-being — Mechanism: tech innovation