EurekAlert! In the Spotlight - Breast Cancer Awareness

Welcome to In the Spotlight, where each month we shine a light on something exciting, timely, or simply fascinating from the world of science.

This month, we're turning our attention to Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time dedicated to increasing awareness, supporting early detection, and highlighting the ongoing research shaping the future of breast cancer treatment and prevention.

Latest News Releases

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 15-Dec-2025 01:11 ET (15-Dec-2025 06:11 GMT/UTC)

Scientists to ‘spy’ on cancer- immune cell interactions using quantum technology breakthrough

Heriot-Watt University
Grant and Award Announcement

A revolutionary quantum sensing project that could transform cancer treatment by tracking how immune cells interact with tumours has been awarded a prestigious £2 million Future Leaders Fellowship.

The four-year fellowship, funded by UK Research and Innovation, focuses on a critical problem: immune cells often fail when they encounter cancer tissue because the tumour environment disrupts their metabolism. The pathbreaking project could enable the development of improved patient-tailored cancer therapies and provide tools for earlier diagnosis and evaluation of anti-cancer drugs.

Funder: UK Research and Innovation

Germline pathogenic variants among women without a history of breast cancer

JAMA Network
Peer-Reviewed Publication

About The Study: In this secondary analysis of the WISDOM trial, a randomized clinical trial that enrolled women without breast cancer ages 40 to 74, criteria-independent genetic testing in a pragmatic trial identified a substantial number of women with clinically actionable results, many of whom would not have qualified for genetic testing under current guidelines. These findings support broader access to genetic testing as part of personalized breast cancer risk assessment.

Journal: JAMA Internal Medicine

Innovating to serve the world: UCLA researchers elected to National Academy of Inventors

University of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences
Grant and Award Announcement

Maher El-Kady, whose work on energy solutions promises a cleaner, more sustainable and more accessible energy future, and Dr. Dennis Slamon, whose groundbreaking innovations in breast cancer treatment have benefited millions around the globe, today join more than 30 other UCLA researchers who have received the honor — the highest professional distinction awarded to inventors.

Risk-based vs annual breast cancer screening / the WISDOM randomized clinical trial

JAMA Network
Peer-Reviewed Publication

About The Study: In a randomized clinical trial, researchers found risk-based breast cancer screening was as safe as annual screening for detecting advanced cancers but did not reduce breast biopsy rates. Corresponding author Laura J. Esserman, MD, MBA, of the University of California, San Francisco, will present the study at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.

Journal: JAMA

Mobile health tool may improve quality of life for adolescent and young adult breast cancer survivors

American Association for Cancer Research
Reports and Proceedings

A mobile health (mHealth) intervention for adolescent and young adult breast cancer survivors that offered tailored support by monitoring electronic patient-reported outcomes (ePROs) significantly improved quality of life and symptoms related to vaginal and arm problems, according to results from a randomized clinical trial presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS), held December 9-12, 2025.

Meeting: San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS)

Acupuncture may help improve perceived breast cancer-related cognitive difficulties over usual care

American Association for Cancer Research
Reports and Proceedings

Real and sham acupuncture were more effective at improving breast cancer survivors’ perceived cognitive impairment compared with usual care, while real acupuncture was superior to sham acupuncture in improving objective cognitive function, according to results from the randomized ENHANCE phase II clinical trial presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS), held December 9-12, 2025.

Meeting: San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS)

Menopausal hormone therapy may not pose breast cancer risk for women with BRCA mutations

American Association for Cancer Research
Reports and Proceedings

Using menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) was not associated with an increased risk of breast cancer in women with inherited mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes, according to the results of a matched prospective analysis presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS), held December 9-12, 2025.

Meeting: San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS)

1
2
3