A Letter from Our Executive Director

May is National Cancer Research Month and a great time to highlight some of the recently published studies focusing on invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC), also known as lobular breast cancer, and ILC research that is underway.

The Lobular Breast Cancer Alliance (LBCA) is grateful to its Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) members whose own ILC research, focus, and dedication to supporting LBCA as the go-to resource for lobular patients worldwide has been key in advancing understanding of ILC.

This month our SAB Member ILC Research page has been updated to feature two new studies co-authored by LBCA scientific advisors. Dr. Jason Mouabbi is an author on Histology-based Survival Outcomes in Hormone Receptor-Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer Treated with Targeted Therapies. This study aimed to determine whether patients with metastatic invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), ILC, or mixed ILC/IDC derive the same benefit from the addition of targeted therapies to endocrine therapy.

Dr. Rita Mukhtar is an author on HER-2 Low Status in Early-Stage Invasive Lobular Carcinoma of the Breast: Associated Factors and Outcomes in an Institutional Series. This study aims to better understand the prevalence and implications of HER2-low status in ILC.

There are also two publications co-authored by SAB Founding Chair Dr. Steffi Oesterreich. One study looks at the similarities and differences between mixed ILC/IDC vs. ILC alone, and the other compares the differences in the microenvironments of ILC vs. IDC.

Interest in lobular breast cancer research is growing exponentially! This is evidenced by the double-digit number of posters of promising ILC research presented in December at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Conference. As LBCA grows and evolves, we are excited that additional ILC studies and related initiatives are underway, and that LBCA has contributed to this momentum.

LBCA volunteers and staff are committed to working with SAB members and other scientists and patient advocates and focusing on ILC research to ensure all we disseminate about ILC is accurate, current, reflects the patient voice, and most effectively promotes more ILC research initiatives.

Potential initiatives being explored include:

• how to examine the efficacy of chemotherapy for people with ILC before surgery
• how to create an effective liquid biopsy test for ILC
• what mechanisms might be employed (and how) to study ILC cohorts across multiple sites and subsequently make important queries such as: What factors may contribute to ILC recurrences?

Stay tuned for more information about how these ILC research initiatives are progressing.

LBCA is grateful to have been able to directly help accelerate ILC research through the funding of the early investigator and fellowship grants made over the last two years in collaboration with partner organizations including the American Academy of Cancer Research (AACR), Conquer Cancer®, the ASCO Foundation, and the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI). You can read about the proposed ILC studies of LBCA’s grantees and about the conclusions drawn and next steps proposed by concluded LBCA-funded ILC grants. We are eager for the conclusion of a new grant solicitation cycle between LBCA and our partner AACR for another ILC research fellowship. Stay tuned for the announcement of this ILC research grant award early this summer.

LBCA’s direct grant making ability has been made possible by the generous support of many donors. We welcome gifts at any time to support all that LBCA does to raise awareness about ILC, support patient advocacy, and promote ILC research. Making a gift is easy through our online giving option or by sending us a check made payable to the Lobular Breast Cancer Alliance Inc. and mailed to P.O. Box 200, White Horse Beach, MA 02381. Visit our Ways to Give page for more information about making gifts online and other ways to donate.

We are grateful for all who join us in our mission to promote more research towards an end to lobular breast cancer.

In Gratitude,

Laurie Hutcheson