A new research consortium in the European Union seeks to increase collaboration and advance research into therapies for patients with lobular breast cancer (ILC).
The European Lobular Breast Cancer Consortium (ELBCC) plans its next consortium meeting at the KU Leuven (25th of November), where they will discuss ILC clinical trial and funding options. For the first time, patient advocates will attend and contribute to an ELBCC meeting.
About the ELBCC
The ELBCC was founded in November 2018 by researchers across Europe with an interest in advancing research and better understanding of lobular breast cancer.
The consortium was founded by ILC researchers Patrick W.B. Derksen, PhD of UMC Utrecht, an LBCA Scientific Editorial Board member with colleagues Christine Desmet, PhD of KU Leuven and Anne Vincent-Salomon, MD, PhD of Institute Curie. Consortium members include researchers with an interest in lobular breast cancer at leading cancer centers around Europe.
ELBCC strives to become a platform to bring together discovery scientists, translational researchers and clinical experts who share the goal to improve the understanding, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of patients with ILC. The goal is collaborate to better understand the biology of ILC, and use that knowledge to improve diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of the disease.
International, Trans-disciplinary Research Collaborations Needed
Lobular breast cancer is a distinct subtype of breast cancer impacting up to 15% of all patients diagnosed with breast cancer. The Lobular Breast Cancer Alliance (LBCA), a patient led advocacy organization based in the United States, encourages collaborative national and international efforts to study lobular breast cancer, an understudied subtype of breast cancer which needs more research and trials to refine treatments for patients.  LBCA Scientific Advisors are based in the US and in Europe, and US advocates collaborate with patients interested in ILC patient advocacy internationally. LBCA has subscribers living around the world. ELBCC researchers are part of the Scientific Organizing Committee of the 2nd International Lobular Breast Cancer Symposium.
ELBCC is committed to including patient voices and advocates in their efforts. Contact ELBCC online or by email elbcc@umcutrecht.nl for more information. Follow ELBCC on Twitter @elbcc
