Partnering with Patients for Discovery: Advancing Breast Cancer Research

In a recent study from the Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute (GCI), a team of researchers led by Principal Investigator Peter Siegel, Ph.D., used tissue samples from breast cancer patients to investigate the role of the protein CIRBP. The researchers collaborated with the Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation Tissue Microarray Consortium (QBCF-TMAC) to analyze tumor samples contributed for scientific research by over 1,600 patients.

The function of CIRBP in cancer is not fully understood—it has been associated with poor outcomes in some types of cancer, while in others it is associated with more favourable prognoses. Different breast cancer models have also shown conflicting roles for CIRBP, leaving its significance as a prognostic factor for breast cancer patients unclear. To address this gap, Prof. Siegel’s team measured the levels of CIRBP in tissue from patients with two subtypes of breast cancer: triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) and hormone receptor positive breast cancer (HR+BC).

The researchers found that high levels of CIRBP were associated with poor outcomes in TNBC patients, but not in those with HR+BC. This discovery not only clarifies the role of CIRBP in different breast cancer subtypes but also points to CIRBP as a potential drug target in TNBC. With other teams around the world working to develop CIRBP-targeted therapies, these findings could help ensure future treatments are directed to the patients most likely to benefit.

To make these important connections between the molecular features of tumors and patient outcomes, researchers depend on the support of patients, clinicians, and partners. The biobank of tumor samples used for this research was developed by the QBCF-TMAC of the Réseau de recherche sur le cancer (RRCancer), a network of researchers and clinicians across Quebec, with financial support from the Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation and Oncopole. “This biobank is an invaluable resource. To make these kinds of discoveries, researchers need access to a large number of high-quality biospecimens, which is only possible through collaborative networks and advanced research infrastructure,” shared Prof. Siegel.

The study’s first author, Dr. Matthew Dankner, M.D, Ph.D., highlighted the significance of patient contributions to the biobank: “It is a privilege to work with so many patients who are not only willing but eager to contribute their specimens to biobanks. They are fueling research that will benefit others in the future, and studies like ours would not be possible without them.”

This study underscores how patient partnership and collaborative research networks can accelerate discoveries with real clinical potential. With the help of biobank resources developed through these partnerships, Prof. Siegel’s team has revealed a promising therapeutic target in a hard-to-treat breast cancer subtype. Through continued collaboration and patient partnership, researchers at the GCI are building on this discovery and working towards finding the knowledge to cure.

To learn more, read the study “Cold-inducible RNA-binding protein is associated with subtype-specific breast cancer patient outcomes”