Treatment of breast cancer in pregnant women

Improve the understanding of the foetus protective mechanisms during chemotherapy in order to save the health of the mother and her baby.

PROJECT LEADERS

Pr Jean-Marc Treluyer, URC Paris Centre, Center of Clinical Investigation Cochin-Necker, in charge of EA 3620, GH Cochin Saint-Vincent de Paul.
Pr Sophie Gil, EA 2706 " Barriers and passage of Medication", Faculty of Pharmacy of Châtenay-Malabry (University of Paris Sud 11).

Context

Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women. There are unfortunately more than 30.000 new cases every year. 10 % of all cases occur before the age of 40, and the risk of developing breast cancer goes up considerably in women who are over 35 at the time of their first pregnancy. As the age at first pregnancy has increased during the last few years in France, the association of breast cancer and pregnancy is becoming more common every year. In France, 350 - 750 pregnant women develop breast cancer during pregnancy. It is essential for a number of these women to undergo chemotherapy which can not be postponed until after the delivery. In 2009, we lack data on the passage of the main anti-cancer medication through the placenta and the toxic effect on the foetus. This is a crucial challenge: to protect the health of both mother and baby simultaneously.

Objectives

  • Carry out preclinical studies to understand: the passage through the placental barrier of molecules commonly used in chemotherapy; the protective mechanisms of the foetus, by examination of
    efflux transporters functionality in relation to these molecules; their metabolism and toxicity in the placenta. This study will be carried out using a system of perfusion of the placenta at term and on
    the culture of placental cells.
  • Synthesise the clinical data already acquired on the toxicity of anticancer medication.
  • Carry out a comparative study of the pharmacology of anti-cancer medication in pregnant and non-pregnant women

Added value of PremUp foundation

Within PremUp, an ensemble of technological expertises combining preclinical and clinical skills is able to evaluate medication used by pregnant women. The teams of researchers and clinicians involved in this project have unique, internationally recognised expertise in the domain of research concentrating on embryonic and foetal development in large mammals, placental perfusion and the culture of placental cells in the laboratory.

Projected budget

Budget over 3 years Preclinical study Clinical study. TOTAL
Operational costs 50.000 60.000 110.000
Small equipement 18.000 18.700 36.700
Staff fees 39.000 209.000 248.000
Cost of the mission 3.000 6.000 9.000

Administration costs of the project
(5% of the total amount)

 5.500 14.685 20.185
115.500 308.385 423.885

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