Entrepreneur and philanthropist Rahim Hassanally shares the latest news from leading breast cancer charity Susan G. Komen.
A renowned entrepreneur, philanthropist, and breast cancer awareness advocate based in California, Rahim Hassanally has raised more than $10,000 for the Sacramento Valley chapter of Susan G. Komen in recent years. As the wider organization continues to address breast cancer on multiple fronts, including research, community health, and global outreach in order to make the biggest impact possible on the disease, Hassanally shares the latest news from the charity, founded and headquartered in Dallas, Texas.
“Last month, Susan G. Komen commended the results of a clinical trial on circulating tumor DNA in triple-negative breast cancer patients,” explains Hassanally. The results, he says, provide a fantastic insight into the recurrence and treatment of the disease.
“Led by Susan G. Komen scholar Dr. Bryan Schneider, the clinical trial moves the medical world closer to predicting the recurrence of triple-negative breast cancer and informing treatment of the disease,” adds breast cancer awareness advocate Hassanally.
The results of the trial were presented at last month’s San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. The trial, according to Hassanally, was conducted by Dr. Bryan Schneider and his colleagues at more than 25 sites involved in looking at circulating tumor cells and DNA. “Dr. Schneider and colleagues conducted their trial at over 25 sites that looked at circulating tumor cells and circulating DNA in patients’ blood,” he explains, “to determine their effectiveness in predicting recurrence, and the prognosis for patients diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer.”
Triple-negative breast cancer, Rahim Hassanally says, currently has limited treatment options, and, thus, a poor prognosis for patients. The results of the recent DNA trial, however, breast cancer charity Susan G. Komen has revealed, showed that breast cancer recurrence could be predicted for these patients, and demonstrated that physicians may be able to use this information in the future to identify those who are at the highest risk. “Through this approach,” said Dr. Schneider at the 2019 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium last month, “researchers can also identify patients who have an incredibly good prognosis leading to the potential for future studies focused on novel de-escalation approaches for some triple-negative breast cancer patients.”
Following the DNA study, a second associated clinical trial, this time to refine how liquid biopsy can inform treatment for triple-negative breast cancer patients, is now planned, according to Susan G. Komen supporter Rahim Hassanally. The potential for patients to know more about their risk, he says, as well as options for treatment, all from a simple blood test, is extraordinary. “I look forward to the results of the next trial,” adds the cancer awareness advocate, wrapping up, “and to new treatment options for triple-negative breast cancer patients as physicians become better equipped than ever to guide precision medicine in the breast cancer care field.”
