News | Interview With Dr. Simon Vincent, Director of Research at UK Breast Cancer Charity Breast Cancer Now
More than 50,000 people in the United Kingdom are diagnosed with breast cancer each year. Although breast cancer survival has improved substantially over the past 40 years, the disease continues to have a profound impact. Breast Cancer Now, one of the UK's largest breast cancer charities, is working to change the future of breast cancer through research, policy advocacy, and individual support.
News Medical reporter Emily Henderson interviewed Dr. Simon Vincent, Breast Cancer Now's director of research, support and influencing. Dr. Vincent discussed the organization's progress in breast cancer research, data policy, drug assessment, and public education, as well as his hopes for breast cancer treatment and prevention over the next 30 years.
1. From Laboratory to Clinic: A Relay Involving 340 Leading Scientists
Dr. Vincent said, “Our team manages all research funded by Breast Cancer Now. More than 340 researchers are currently addressing a wide range of breast cancer challenges, with research funding now exceeding £26 million.” Projects include:
Investigating the mechanisms of breast cancer metastasis and ways to intervene;
Developing treatments with fewer side effects;
Using AI to identify whether ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) will develop into invasive cancer;
Studying breast cancer prevention, including tracking data from more than 110,000 women in the Breast Cancer Now Generations Study to investigate genetic and environmental risk factors.
2. Promoting a Secondary Breast Cancer Audit to Address a Gap in the UK Health System
“Many people do not know that the UK lacks an accurate count of women currently living with secondary breast cancer, meaning cancer that has spread,” Dr. Vincent emphasized.
This form of breast cancer can be managed but not cured. After 15 years of advocacy by Breast Cancer Now, NHS England and the Welsh Government committed in 2021 to a national audit expected to begin in autumn 2022.
The organization is also seeking similar commitments from Scotland and Northern Ireland to achieve nationwide data transparency.
3. Participating in Every Breast Cancer Drug Review to Accelerate Access to New Treatments
Breast Cancer Now is the only UK charity involved in every breast cancer drug assessment by NICE, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, and the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC).
Dr. Vincent's team actively contributes to the UK drug approval process, aiming to make new treatments available to eligible patients more quickly and equitably.
One important example is carboplatin chemotherapy for triple-negative breast cancer. In a multicenter clinical trial funded by Breast Cancer Now, 68% of tumors in patients with BRCA mutations shrank, substantially outperforming standard treatment. These results led the European Society for Medical Oncology to update its treatment guidelines and formally recommend BRCA testing.
4. Focusing Not Only on Cure, but Also on Quality of Life
Breast cancer affects both physical and mental health. Breast Cancer Now emphasizes that everyone diagnosed should have immediate access to professional support.
The organization provides:
A free, confidential helpline;
The Ask Our Nurse email service;
Younger Women Together discussion groups;
The Someone Like Me peer-matching service;
A 24-hour online forum where people with breast cancer can support one another and share experiences.
Although in-person services were suspended during the pandemic, Breast Cancer Now quickly moved all programs online to maintain uninterrupted support.
5. The Pandemic Accelerated Collaboration and Innovation
The pandemic reduced charitable donations and temporarily closed many laboratories. Dr. Vincent nevertheless believes the period demonstrated the significant potential of research collaboration.
Breast Cancer Now partnered with Pfizer to launch the Catalyst Programme, which invested £10 million and made selected Pfizer drugs available for research. “Through this program, we have achieved research breakthroughs that would not have been possible on our own.” Twenty-eight research projects have benefited from the collaboration.
6. A Vision for 2050: Everyone With Breast Cancer Survives and Lives Well
“We believe that by 2050, everyone diagnosed with breast cancer will survive and have a good quality of life,” Dr. Vincent said.
He expects breast cancer research to advance in the following areas:
Predicting who is most likely to develop the disease;
Finding more effective prevention methods;
Providing personalized treatment;
Diagnosing breast cancer at its earliest stage;
Providing multiple treatment options even after cancer has spread.
“Research will be the key to changing the future of breast cancer,” he said.
News | Interview With Dr. Simon Vincent, Director of Research at UK Breast Cancer Charity Breast Cancer Now
News | Interview With Dr. Simon Vincent, Director of Research at UK Breast Cancer Charity Breast Cancer Now
More than 50,000 people in the United Kingdom are diagnosed with breast cancer each year. Although breast cancer survival has improved substantially over the past 40 years, the disease continues to have a profound impact. Breast Cancer Now, one of the UK's largest breast cancer charities, is working to change the future of breast cancer through research, policy advocacy, and individual support.
News Medical reporter Emily Henderson interviewed Dr. Simon Vincent, Breast Cancer Now's director of research, support and influencing. Dr. Vincent discussed the organization's progress in breast cancer research, data policy, drug assessment, and public education, as well as his hopes for breast cancer treatment and prevention over the next 30 years.
1. From Laboratory to Clinic: A Relay Involving 340 Leading Scientists
Dr. Vincent said, “Our team manages all research funded by Breast Cancer Now. More than 340 researchers are currently addressing a wide range of breast cancer challenges, with research funding now exceeding £26 million.” Projects include:
Investigating the mechanisms of breast cancer metastasis and ways to intervene;
Developing treatments with fewer side effects;
Using AI to identify whether ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) will develop into invasive cancer;
Studying breast cancer prevention, including tracking data from more than 110,000 women in the Breast Cancer Now Generations Study to investigate genetic and environmental risk factors.
2. Promoting a Secondary Breast Cancer Audit to Address a Gap in the UK Health System
“Many people do not know that the UK lacks an accurate count of women currently living with secondary breast cancer, meaning cancer that has spread,” Dr. Vincent emphasized.
This form of breast cancer can be managed but not cured. After 15 years of advocacy by Breast Cancer Now, NHS England and the Welsh Government committed in 2021 to a national audit expected to begin in autumn 2022.
The organization is also seeking similar commitments from Scotland and Northern Ireland to achieve nationwide data transparency.
3. Participating in Every Breast Cancer Drug Review to Accelerate Access to New Treatments
Breast Cancer Now is the only UK charity involved in every breast cancer drug assessment by NICE, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, and the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC).
Dr. Vincent's team actively contributes to the UK drug approval process, aiming to make new treatments available to eligible patients more quickly and equitably.
One important example is carboplatin chemotherapy for triple-negative breast cancer. In a multicenter clinical trial funded by Breast Cancer Now, 68% of tumors in patients with BRCA mutations shrank, substantially outperforming standard treatment. These results led the European Society for Medical Oncology to update its treatment guidelines and formally recommend BRCA testing.
4. Focusing Not Only on Cure, but Also on Quality of Life
Breast cancer affects both physical and mental health. Breast Cancer Now emphasizes that everyone diagnosed should have immediate access to professional support.
The organization provides:
A free, confidential helpline;
The Ask Our Nurse email service;
Younger Women Together discussion groups;
The Someone Like Me peer-matching service;
A 24-hour online forum where people with breast cancer can support one another and share experiences.
Although in-person services were suspended during the pandemic, Breast Cancer Now quickly moved all programs online to maintain uninterrupted support.
5. The Pandemic Accelerated Collaboration and Innovation
The pandemic reduced charitable donations and temporarily closed many laboratories. Dr. Vincent nevertheless believes the period demonstrated the significant potential of research collaboration.
Breast Cancer Now partnered with Pfizer to launch the Catalyst Programme, which invested £10 million and made selected Pfizer drugs available for research. “Through this program, we have achieved research breakthroughs that would not have been possible on our own.” Twenty-eight research projects have benefited from the collaboration.
6. A Vision for 2050: Everyone With Breast Cancer Survives and Lives Well
“We believe that by 2050, everyone diagnosed with breast cancer will survive and have a good quality of life,” Dr. Vincent said.
He expects breast cancer research to advance in the following areas:
Predicting who is most likely to develop the disease;
Finding more effective prevention methods;
Providing personalized treatment;
Diagnosing breast cancer at its earliest stage;
Providing multiple treatment options even after cancer has spread.
“Research will be the key to changing the future of breast cancer,” he said.
Story source:
Collected online