How Upstate New York Is Making Breast Cancer Advancements

The American Cancer Society says that in 2022, there were an estimated 287,850 new cases of invasive breast cancer in women in the United States and 43,250 women died from the disease.

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All hope isn't lost as a team at Upstate Medical University in Syracuse continues to make impressive strides in breast cancer research. To improve breast cancer treatment and potentially find a cure, the Upstate Medical team has published several groundbreaking discoveries that have led to more grant funding.

Dr. Leszek Kotula, an associate director for the Cancer Center at Upstate, says many of the recent breakthroughs were made possible due to funding and faith in the research, much of which came from The Baldwin Fund. This nonprofit organization is dedicated to funding cancer research in Central New York and has played a crucial role in the continued success of the team at Upstate.

Among the most notable discoveries made by the team is a group of genes that work together in the body to facilitate the metastatic process. Understanding this process has allowed the team to focus on optimizing a drug for the treatment of breast cancer. Dr. Kotula noted that there is still a lot of work to be done, as it will likely take another three years to optimize the drug before moving on to clinical trials.

Despite the long road ahead, Dr. Kotula says the team is optimistic about the future and has already identified other potential pathways for drug development. He notes that there is no definite timeline for when the treatment will be ready for the public since proper trials and Food and Drug Administration approvals are necessary.

Overall, the work of the Upstate Medical team is a testament to the potential of committing resources toward the advancement of cancer research. As they continue to explore new pathways for treatment and identify potential cures, researchers in the field remain committed to providing hope and support to women impacted by breast cancer.