Scientists Learn to Store Breast Tissue to Test Cancer Drugs on It

British scientists have figured out how to store breast tissue outside the body. This discovery could help tailor therapy to women, The Guardian reports . Among other things, this could allow specialists to develop new cancer drugs without having to test them on animals.

The study was funded by the charity Prevent Breast Cancer. Scientists have concluded that breast tissue can be stored for at least a week in a special hydrogel solution called VitroGel. In it, it retains its structure, including cells, and can respond to drugs in the same way as tissue in the body.

According to research fellow at the University of Manchester, Hannah Harrison, this discovery will help scientists test the most suitable drugs for the treatment and prevention of breast cancer on living tissue.

"There are different options for reducing the risk of breast cancer for women with certain family histories or BRCA mutations. However, not all drugs are right for all women. This new approach means we can begin to identify which drugs are right for which women by measuring their effects on living tissue. This means women can take the most effective drug that suits their genetic makeup," Harrison said.

According to the World Health Organization, cited by The Guardian, breast cancer is the second most common form of cancer in the world. It is diagnosed in 11.6% of cases. Only lung cancer is detected more often - in 12.4% of cases. At the same time, survival rates for breast cancer are improving over the years, the publication notes. According to a study by Oxford University, women who are diagnosed with this disease at an early stage die 66% less often than 20 years ago.

According to Cancer UK, 76% of British women with breast cancer survive more than 10 years from diagnosis.

Earlier, scientists from Oxford University found a way to warn people about cancer in advance.

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