Today, August 18, is Breast Cancer Research Day, truly a day to celebrate because research is the reason breast cancer survival rates have improved 66% in the last 20 years. These gains are the result of:

• Better screening, resulting in earlier diagnoses
• Better coordination of breast cancer care
• Surgery improvements
• New and better chemotherapy medicines and other treatments
• Hormonal therapy given after surgery to lower the risk of recurrence

The speed of scientific progress in breast cancer research in just the past year has been nothing short of inspiring. If you’ll forgive the scientific terminology in this post, I’d like to highlight a number of emerging developments that offer new hope for prevention, diagnostics, treatment, and survivorship of the most common cancer affecting women.

1. Targeted therapies that hit the mark

In the last year, the FDA has approved two new cancer-fighting drugs that deliver important breakthroughs. One (inavolisib) is effective against otherwise resistant tumors, showing significant extensions in progression‑free survival. The other (datopotamab deruxtecan, or Datroway) improves treatment for the most common form of breast cancer (HR‑positive, HER2‑negative metastatic breast cancer), which affects about 70% of breast cancer patients. The drug reportedly delivers potent chemotherapy while sparing healthy tissue—improving outcomes with fewer side effects.

2. Next‑generation therapies for hormone-driven cancers

Researchers are also working to make available oral selective estrogen receptor degraders (SERDs) like giredestrant, which are under FDA Fast Track review as of May 2025. These drugs are designed to overcome resistance in tumors carrying ESR1 mutations, offering a potent new mechanism for hormone‑driven cancers.

3. Novel agents to trigger complete tumor regression

A highly promising preclinical compound called ErSO has shown the remarkable ability to trigger complete tumor regression—including in metastatic models and brain/lung metastases—in animal studies. Unlike treatments that merely halt cancer cell growth, ErSO induces cell death in ER-positive breast cancer models, including resistant disease. Although this research is in its early stages, it’s one of the most compelling pre‑clinical breakthroughs we’ve seen.

4. Smarter screening and diagnosis with AI

Artificial intelligence is transforming breast cancer screening and diagnostics in profound ways:

• A nationwide real‑world trial in Germany involving over 460,000 women showed that AI-supported mammography increased detection rates by 6.7%, and after adjustment, up to 17.6%, without increasing false positives. This is a game-changer for early intervention.
• Cutting‑edge deep‑learning models have been developed to classify biopsy images, distinguishing benign from malignant and identifying subtypes with higher accuracy than existing methods, potentially speeding diagnosis and reducing patient burden. (“Deep learning” is a subset of machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) that mimics how a human brain functions, empowering computers to address complex patterns that create new insights and solutions. Examples include digital assistants like SIRI, text alert systems, self-driving cars, and now, cancer diagnostic tools.)

5. Emerging liquid biopsies & precision monitoring

At the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology conference in Chicago, researchers unveiled liquid biopsy platforms that detect circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in blood. This technology, which is now being rolled out in England’s NHS for breast and lung cancer patients, allows faster molecular profiling and personalized treatment decisions, marking a decisive shift toward precision oncology.

6. Gut microbiome: a new influencer in therapy

A fascinating recent study from UC Irvine revealed that gut microbiota—particularly enzymes like beta-glucuronidase produced by Bacteroides fragilis—affect how the body processes tamoxifen, a commonly prescribed treatment for hormone-positive breast cancer, enhancing its effectiveness. This opens the door to future microbiome-based personalization of hormone therapy.

7. Immunotherapy for hard-to-treat breast cancer

For patients with triple‑negative breast cancer (TNBC), who have historically had few treatment options, new data on leronlimab is offering hope: some patients remain disease‑free after 36 months, even after other treatments failed. Trials combining leronlimab with drugs like sacituzumab govitecan (Trodelvy) and pembrolizumab are now underway, signaling potential new synergistic regimens.

Also in TNBC, a three‑drug combination involving immunotherapy (like nivolumab) plus chemotherapy has shown a marked increase in pathologic complete response rates—suggesting immunotherapy now has a role even in early‑stage, aggressive disease.

8. A cancer-fighting vaccine?

The American Cancer Society reports that researchers are studying whether cancer vaccines can stop the progress or prevent the recurrence of breast cancers after treatment. There are many ways these vaccines can work. Protein vaccines, for example, stimulate the immune system to recognize and attack specific cancer proteins. DNA vaccines contain DNA instructions so that once the vaccine is given, the DNA will instruct your body to make protein(s) to help the immune system recognize and attack cancer cells. It’s also possible that vaccines might help prevent certain types of breast cancer in people who are at high risk (due to the presence of hereditary gene mutations or breast cancer in the family).

9. Lifestyle as medicine: exercise reduces recurrence

In addition to pharmacology, the power of lifestyle should not be underestimated. A decade‑long randomized trial found that structured exercise after treatment reduced the risk of death by 37% and cancer recurrence by 28%—evidence that holistic care remains vital in survivorship ⎯ and beautifully aligns with my philosophy of nurturing the body from the inside out.

10. The importance of mindset

Chronic psychological stress (Cultural Stress) can cause chronic inflammation, which can promote tumor growth and suppress immune function. Psychological interventions like cognitive behavioral stress management (CBSM) and mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) show promise in managing distress, improving quality of life, and potentially impacting disease progression and influencing long-term outcomes.

In summary

From breakthrough chemotherapies to AI‑driven diagnostics—and even the revitalizing promise of exercise—the first half of 2025 demonstrates a watershed moment in breast cancer research.

While challenges remain—regulatory approval timelines, broader access, long-term outcomes—we are moving closer to treatments that are safer, smarter, and personalized, and that may truly transform survivorship.

As always, Modern Wellness is an inside job: we’re healthiest and happiest when body and mind work together. And research remains one of our most powerful tools for guiding our choices—in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment!