Research
In honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM), this special edition episode of Breast Cancer Breakthroughs focuses on the progress achieved since the launch of this series in 2023. We revisit expert interviews to highlight the clinical trials that have led to recent FDA approvals and look ahead at the breakthroughs we envision for […]
Here are four trends Komen is watching that are shaping the breast cancer research landscape in 2026 and beyond. Breast cancer research continues to advance with new clinical trial results, often leading to FDA approvals and new options for breast cancer diagnosis, testing and treatment. Komen monitors clinical trial results, FDA approvals and ongoing […]
Kendra Batchelder is the founder and CEO of Madera, a company focused on predicting cancer risk using artificial intelligence (AI). She holds a PhD in computational medicine focused on signal processing. She recently shared her insights on the way AI is transforming mammography with Susan G. Komen.
As the use of artificial intelligence (AI) expands, scientists are exploring ways to integrate this technology into breast cancer research and improve breast cancer care. In this episode of Breast Cancer Breakthroughs, we speak with Komen Scholars, Nancy Lin, M.D. and Christina Curtis, Ph.D., along with Komen Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC) Steering Committee member, Megan […]
For decades, breast cancer research has long been limited by the lack of diversity in data. Each person’s breast cancer experience tells their own story and is one piece of the puzzle of finding the cures for breast cancer. This is one of the reasons why Susan G. Komen’s ShareForCures® research registry was created. This […]
If you watch the news or check the latest posts on social media, it seems like more and more people are sharing stories about a friend, coworker or family member being diagnosed with cancer at a young age. These stories leave many people wondering, is cancer really becoming more common in younger adults? The short answer to this question is, yes. For some types of cancer, including breast cancer, researchers are seeing an […]
Investing in the Future of Breast Cancer Research “At a time when federal funding for scientific research is increasingly limited and complicated, Komen’s investment is helping sustain critical momentum in the search for breakthroughs. Demand exceeds currently available government funding, creating growing challenges for scientists — particularly early-career investigators — whose groundbreaking ideas often face […]
Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive breast cancer that’s challenging to treat. Making up about 15-20% of all breast cancers, TNBC lacks three common tumor characteristics (biomarkers) that breast cancer treatments usually target: the estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and HER2 protein. Without these biomarkers, the cancer tests negative for all three, meaning it cannot be treated with standard hormonal therapies or HER2-targeted medications. Because TNBC tumors tend to recur (come back) within the first five years and with limited treatment options, it’s a high […]
Over the past 30 years, 31 FDA-approved breast cancer drugs have a connection to Komen. “We are able to show the points along the research pathway for each of the 31 drugs where Komen funding has helped in development and eventual clinical use, either through investments in direct studies or investments in people doing the research,” she said.
Real-world evidence involves gathering information about how a drug performs in routine clinical practice, outside of clinical trials. Knowing the real-world impact of a drug can help patients and their doctors make more informed decisions about their treatment. In this episode of Breast Cancer Breakthroughs, we speak with Komen Scholar Donald McDonnell; Ph.D., medical oncologist Maryam Lustberg, M.D., M.P.H.; and METAvivor President Kelly Shanahan, M.D., as they talk about the real-world evidence and clinical use of oral selective estrogen receptor degraders (SERDs), how these drugs have […]
Despite some progress, treatment advancements have lagged for metastatic triple negative breast cancer (mTNBC). New, more effective treatment options for mTNBC are urgently needed. In this episode of Breast Cancer Breakthroughs, we speak with Komen Scientific Advisory Board member Lisa Newman, M.D., M.P.H.; former Komen grantee, Aditya Bardia, M.D., M.P.H.; and medical oncologist Sarah Sammons, M.D., as they discuss what’s new for those living with mTNBC. What are the biggest unmet needs for mTNBC? For many years, chemotherapy was the only treatment option for mTNBC. For Komen Advocate-in-Science member Janice Cowden, chemotherapy was […]
Missy was vacationing in Hawaii with her family when a sudden shortness of breath caught her by surprise. She was already four and a half years past her diagnosis and subsequent treatment of stage 1 breast cancer. After having a double mastectomy, Missy’s doctor confirmed she had clear margins and wouldn’t need chemotherapy or radiation therapy. “I was on the road to recovery and I was feeling great,” she says. “The chance of recurrence for me was very slim.” Missy called her doctor, who thought the shortness of breath could be a […]
