15 December, 2019

Our research grants programme helps us to understand the causes of breast cancer so that one day we can prevent more people from being diagnosed with breast cancer. Meet one of our scientists, Alex Websdale.

Part of this programme supports emerging scientists in breast cancer research.  With your support, we have been able to fund a number of PhD students. We met up with one of our current PhD students, Alex Websdale from Leeds University, to learn more about his research project and what he hopes we will learn.

What’s this research about?

I want to understand how we can prevent the recurrence of breast cancer called “triple negative” breast cancer. This cancer has a worse prognosis than other types of breast cancer. It cannot be treated with common hormonal therapies. Patients with “triple negative” breast cancer must undergo non-hormone targeting chemotherapy, which may have worse side effects.

Tell us more!

A previous study has shown that certain products of cholesterol breakdown in our body, called oxysterols, can increase the production of chemotherapy drug export pumps in the brain. Production of these pumps in cancer cells makes them “chemotherapy resistant” and no longer respond to chemotherapy, making recurrence more likely. I want to explore if patients could benefit from a reduction in cholesterol when they are undergoing chemotherapy.

Ultimately, with my investigations, I want to have an impact on identifying how these cancer cells can be targeted with therapy. Preventing secondary breast cancer and increasing survival rates.

What are Oxysterols?

Oxysterols are by-products of cholesterol breakdown. Cholesterol is a fat-like substance made by the body and found in some foods. It is essential for good health and is found in every cell in your body. However, having a high level of cholesterol in your blood can harm your health. The difference between oxysterols and cholesterol is the addition of oxygen and hydrogen to the molecule.

What is the connection to breast cancer?

Tumour cells respond to high internal levels of oxysterols by producing pumps in their cell walls to push oxysterols out again. However, these pumps also remove helpful substances, such as chemotherapy agents, which can lead to chemotherapy resistance in cancer cells. Oxysterols are also associated with the promotion of secondary tumour growths called metastases.

Why are Oxysterols such an interesting research field?

It was only recently that oxysterols have been linked to cancer, and there’s a lot still to investigate. Also, as oxysterols are a product of cholesterol breakdown, this may suggest a link between high-cholesterol diets and worse breast cancer outcomes.

What discoveries have led to your current work?

A study from our lab has shown that triple-negative breast cancers are more responsive to oxysterol signalling than some other breast cancer types. If oxysterols act through similar methods on breast cancer cells as cells in the brain, this could suggest that triple-negative breast cancers are more likely to become chemotherapy-resistant through oxysterols than other types of breast cancer.

How did you become interested in this specific project?

Cancer research has always been a field that has interested me, though I didn’t have much experience with it during my undergraduate degree. When looking for PhDs this was a great opportunity to work in the field of cancer with an interesting concept behind it.

What difference will your project make?

Hopefully, it could improve treatment for non-hormone-responsive cancers. And help reduce the chance of breast cancer recurrence following initial diagnosis.

Thanks to Alex for sharing this background in his research project.  To find out more about our current and past research projects, see our research.

You can help our scientists make a difference

Please donate to help our scientists undertake world-class research to understand the causes of breast cancer. Together we can prevent breast cancer. Thank you.



Related Articles

8 March 2024

We want to inspire inclusion this International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day 2024! The campaign theme for International Women's Day 2024 is Inspire Inclusion.  ‘When we inspire others to understand and value women's inclusion, we forge a better world.’  ...

Read full story

19 December 2023

Non-toxic living for babies and children

From the first moments of conception through to puberty, your child's growth is non-stop. Children develop from a tiny bundle of joy to fully formed adults in around two decades....

Read full story

27 October 2023

Breast cancer risk and ethnicity: Explained

Black women from Caribbean and African backgrounds are up to two times more likely to receive a late-stage diagnosis for some cancers than white British women in England.  What the...

Read full story

19 July 2023

What are the chemical cocktails polluting our rivers?

In years gone by, Britain’s waterways were a haven for biodiversity and nature lovers. Still, after years of exposure to harmful ‘chemical cocktails’ (mixtures of several chemical groups), this is...

Read full story
Professor Val Speirs

A £10 donation today can help fund our PHD studentships to carry out world-class animal free research into the causes of breast cancer.

 

Donate £10
Woman on zoom call

A donation of £30 can help fund our Prevention Hub so your loved ones can learn how to reduce their risk.

Donate £20
people holding up hearts

Your donation of £50 can fund our animal free research and educational programmes to prevent breast cancer for future generations.

Donate £50
women wearing breast cancer uk t shirt and blue jeans

Just want to help in some way? donate an amount that feels right for you

Start Your Donation

Donate Now

Make a Donation

Share:

My One Time Donation

I want to make a one time donation of

Thank you. You’re just a few steps away from completing your donation.

+25% with Gift Aid

If you are a UK taxpayer, the value of your gift can be increased by 25% under the Gift Aid scheme at no extra cost to you.

This means that your donation of £100.00 could be worth an extra £25.00 to us, and it doesn't cost you a penny!

My Monthly Donation

I want to make a monthly donation

You’re just a few steps away from completing your donation.

+25% with Gift Aid

If you are a UK taxpayer, the value of your gift can be increased by 25% under the Gift Aid scheme at no extra cost to you.

This means that your donation of £100.00 could be worth an extra £25.00 to us, and it doesn't cost you a penny!

One Time Donation Monthly Donation
Make a donation with Gift Aid

Gift Aid is reclaimed by the Breast Cancer UK from the tax that I pay for the current tax year. If I pay less Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax than the amount of Gift Aid claimed on all my donations, it is my responsibility to pay any difference. Breast Cancer UK will reclaim 25p in tax back for every £1 I donate.

Your payment details

Your donation amount

Donation Allocation (Optional)

Additional Comments (Optional)

Stay in Touch

We’d love to keep you posted on how your support can make a difference to Breast Cancer UK and the exciting ways you can support us in the future.

Please tick if you’re happy to receive information from us by:

By completing an online donation, your data will be handled in accordance with the Breast Cancer UK’s privacy policy, and the privacy policy of our payment processing supplier BBMS (a Blackbaud company).

Thank You Wall

If you donate over £50, as a way of saying thank you for your donation, we would like to feature your donation on our virtual thank you wall on our website.

Donations will only feature on the wall for up to two months depending on the level of donations we receive.

You must fill out all required fields before paying.

Processing...

Need help making your donation?

If you need help to make a donation or have any questions about making one, please contact us…

Call 08456801322