The BRCA Trial

The BRCA trial is the world’s first international treatment trial for hereditary breast cancer. Launched in May 2006, the trial is funded in the UK by Breakthrough Breast Cancer and Cancer Research UK. It is designed to improve the outlook of women with faulty BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes whose breast cancer has returned after initial treatment. Women who inherit faults in these genes have up to an 85% chance of developing breast cancer by the age of 70.

What is the purpose of this study?

The BRCA trial is a phase II trial to compare the platinum-based chemotherapy drug, carboplatin, with the current recommended treatment, docetaxel. The researchers’ aim is to discover whether carboplatin is a safe and potentially more effective treatment than docetaxel for breast cancers caused by the inheritance of faulty BRCA genes. The women involved all have BRCA-associated breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body.

This work stemmed from groundbreaking research which took place at the Breakthrough Research Centre. Scientists found that platinum-based drugs like carboplatin were more effective than other chemotherapy drugs in killing cancer cells with faulty BRCA genes.

Information for Patients and the General Public

Information for Healthcare Professionals & Investigators