With the changing leaves and a wave of pink ribbons, October stands as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a global campaign dedicated to promoting the importance of early detection and supporting those affected by the disease.
Breast cancer is a significant health concern, with 1 in 12 women being diagnosed in their lifetime. In 2022 alone, the World Health Organization reported 2.3 million women were diagnosed with breast cancer and 670,000 died globally. Given these numbers, it’s likely that many of us know someone personally affected by this disease.
Breast cancer occurs when malignant cells develop in the breast tissues, affecting both women and men. With various types making it a complex disease, it remains the most common cancer among women. According to the American Cancer Society, when breast cancer is detected in its earliest, localized stages, the five-year relative survival rate is an impressive 99%. Advances in early detection and treatment methods have significantly boosted survival rates in recent years. Today, in the United States, there are over 4 million breast cancer survivors, a testament to these medical advancements.
In raising awareness of breast cancer this October, we’re highlighting seven innovative approaches to cancer research and treatment that have the potential to change the future of breast cancer and its treatment options.
1. LATTICE MEDICAL
French startup LATTICE MEDICAL, has developed MATTISSE, a bio-resorbable tissue engineering chamber. With a 3D-printed implant, they offer natural breast regeneration in a single surgery. The implant will affix to the patient’s tissue and regenerate what was lost in the mastectomy in three to six months and then biodegrade within 18-24 months.
MATTISSE demonstrates how a revolution in reconstructive breast surgery for breast cancer patients is possible. By using the patient’s own tissue and enabling natural reconstruction, the surgery adapts to the individual’s anatomy, moving away from the traditional one-size-fits-all approach. Current techniques can often necessitate multiple painful surgeries, making MATTISSE a more comfortable and promising option for those worried about reconstructive treatment.
A member of the 3DEXPERIENCE Lab startup accelerator, LATTICE MEDICAL uses the 3DEXPERIENCE platform for everything from 3D product modeling to biomechanical simulations to scaling production processes.
2. VORTHEx virtual radiotherapy
The H. Hartmann Institute of Radiotherapy and Radiosurgery in France, in collaboration with the 3DEXPERIENCE Lab, developed a novel solution, VORTHEx. This solution uses virtual twins to simulate radiotherapy in the virtual world before it happens in the real one in an effort to relieve the anxiety and distress that patients experience from radiotherapy procedures.
For women (or men) battling breast cancer, an experience like VORTHEx would be a significant step toward alleviating the anxiety of facing radiotherapy procedures. VORTHEx shows the entire procedure, including the room, the Accuray Cyberknife® robot arm and the patient’s position. A patient care team member is present for the virtual experience, answering any questions related to the simulation.
By providing a clear understanding of the procedure and what to expect, VORTHEx empowers patients – and their families – with knowledge and reduces their stress and anxiety. This not only improves their overall experience but also enhances their chances of overcoming breast cancer with a positive mindset, giving them a sense of control over their treatment journey.
3. The MEDITWIN Project
Over the next five years, Dassault Systèmes will be at the forefront of the MEDITWIN initiative, an ambitious project that brings together 14 world-class partners and financial support from the French government to develop virtual twins for medical practice and make healthcare safer and more accessible for all. The MEDITWIN initiative will open up new possibilities for breast cancer research and treatment.
Using MEDITWIN, doctors can create virtual twins of individual patients. One promising area where MEDITWIN will have a significant impact is oncology. These virtual twins are scientifically accurate digital replicas that simulate the patient’s organs, metabolism and cancerous tumors. The MEDITWIN project is an innovative initiative that combines French science and technology to develop these personalized virtual twins for medical practice. Doctors will be able to simulate future scenarios for patients, offering hope for more accurate diagnosis and personalized treatment options.
4. IASO Showcase
The IASO showcase is a demonstration created by Dassault Systèmes to highlight the capabilities of our 3DEXPERIENCE platform in transforming the patient experience, especially in oncology. It covers all stages of a combination product’s lifecycle, from research and discovery to commercialization. The showcase includes features like drug product development, device design, clinical development, and manufacturing excellence.
The IASO showcase demonstrates how Dassault Systèmes’ solutions and the 3DEXPERIENCE platform can deliver to stakeholders challenged with bringing innovation to the market through combination products and transforming the patient experience. It demonstrates the potential to make a real impact in oncology and breast cancer care, instilling confidence in the future of treatment.
5. CDR-Life Collaboration
In March, Dassault Systèmes announced a collaboration with CDR-Life, a Swiss biotherapeutic company, to accelerate their development of next-generation highly tumor-selective immunotherapies using CDR-Life’s proprietary M-gager® platform. Highly tumor-selective immunotherapies are advanced cancer treatments that specifically target tumor cells using the immune system while minimizing harm to healthy tissues.
For a disease as common as breast cancer, next-gen immunotherapies could be huge. This is because they empower the immune system to eradicate malignant cells with unparalleled specificity. As a result, working together and improving the stability of antibody-based T-cell engagers can lead to high tumor cell killing potency, longer duration of effect, and lower risk of immune-relation adverse effects.
This collaboration will lead to more successful treatment of cancer and can make a huge impact for those undergoing breast cancer treatment and reducing negative effects or complicated treatment.
6. BIOVIA’s Generative Therapeutics Design
As companies implement AI to improve research and treatment, BIOVIA’s Generative Therapeutics Design (GTD) is making significant strides in cancer treatment by using AI and machine learning to design and optimize new therapeutic compounds. This technology helps create drugs that meet specific target product profiles (TPPs), which are essential for effective cancer treatment.
The AI-driven approach has already led to the successful design and experimental validation of several compounds, some of which are now moving towards clinical testing.
This innovative method, driven by AI, is set to accelerate the development of high-quality, effective cancer therapies. As cancer therapy is crucial to treating breast cancer, the potential of AI to enhance treatments is a significant development in the field.
7. EORTC and Medidata Partnership
On September 11, Medidata, a Dassault Systèmes brand, and the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) announced a four-year extension of their partnership, a move that promises significant benefits for the field of oncology research. This partnership will allow EORTC to further increase patient access to oncology trials, make trial participation easier, and help to deliver new treatments to the market faster. EORTC leverages 13 Medidata solutions which enable their researchers to access and manage all clinical data in a single place.
This partnership will help EORTC researchers shorten study timelines and deliver safer oncology trials for patients. It also allows further research with MedidataAI, which could lead to significant improvements in cancer care.
These seven innovative approaches to cancer research and treatment have the potential to revolutionize the future of breast cancer care. By enhancing treatment options, expanding research opportunities, and improving the patient experience for those fighting breast cancer and millions of families worldwide, we are making significant strides toward beating this disease. While there are 4 million survivors today, we hope this number grows exponentially as we pave the way to a brighter, cancer-free future.
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Ellie Sidel is an Intern on the Corporate Communications Team here at Dassault Systèmes. She is currently a Senior at Boston University studying Public Relations and Innovation & Entrepreneurship.