Researchers at Cambridge find immune cell exhaustion in healthy women with BRCA1/2 gene mutations, hinting at potential immunotherapy intervention for breast cancer prevention.

Researchers at the University of Cambridge discovered immune cells in breast tissue of healthy women with BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations display signs of exhaustion, which suggests the immune cells can't clear out damaged breast cells. This discovery may open the possibility of using existing immunotherapy drugs as early intervention to prevent breast cancer in carriers of these genes. The researchers have received a 'Biology to Prevention Award' from Cancer Research UK to trial this approach in mice, which could pave the way for a pilot clinical trial in women carrying BRCA gene mutations.