An ongoing Irish study into breast cancer is to receive €116,000 in funding from the Irish Cancer Society (ICS).

The study, which began a year-and-a-half ago, is investigating why cancer cells consume large amounts of sugar, grow rapidly and become increasingly resistant to medication.

It is focusing on the molecule, queuine, which all cells in the body contain. Queuine is made by bacteria in the food that we consume, but little is known about its function.

Previous research has shown that levels of the molecule fall significantly in cancer cells, allowing them to consume large amounts of sugar and other foods. This means that they grow at a very fast rate and can become increasingly resistant to medication.

This study is looking at how the reintroduction of queuine may weaken cancer cells and increase the effectiveness of medication aimed at treating the disease.

"A key focus of the study is to determine how and at what stage queuine is being lost, and how this is impacting on sugar consumption. There is a lot of research available in relation to breast cancer, so we are starting with a clear view of how the cancer cells behave at different stages.

"We hope that by understanding the function of queuine we can use it to improve the effectiveness of the drugs currently being used to treat breast cancer," explained ICS research scholar, Claire Fergus, of the Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute.

She emphasised that as queuine loss occurs in every type of cancer, these findings could have implications ‘for all cancer patients'.

The ICS is currently funding six studies on breast cancer to a value of over €830,000. It is currently the largest voluntary funder of cancer research in Ireland.

"One in every ten women in Ireland will develop breast cancer during their lifetime, so our funding for breast cancer research is crucial. Having a better understanding of the disease is a key part of improving treatment and outcomes for patients, so studies such as Claire's play an important role in improving the lives of those affected by cancer," commented Prof John Fitzpatrick, head of research at the ICS.

Over 2,500 cases of breast cancer are newly diagnosed in Irish women every year. For more information on the disease, call the ICS helpline at 1800 200 700.