Torbay Hospital first UK site for breast cancer insulin study

Women being treated for breast cancer in Torbay and South Devon are taking part in a major new clinical study aimed at improving future treatment.

Torbay Hospital is the first UK site to recruit patients for the Trans-EndoNET study, which will investigate whether insulin levels affect how women respond to hormone therapy. The research focuses on Estrogen Receptor-Positive, HER2-Negative breast cancer, the most common form of the disease, particularly in post-menopausal women.

Aromatase inhibitors are widely used to reduce oestrogen levels and the risk of recurrence. Researchers hope to determine whether lower insulin levels improve their effectiveness. Around a third of adults over 50 may have insulin resistance or metabolic syndrome, which could affect treatment outcomes.

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Louise Merker, Consultant Oncoplastic and Reconstructive Surgeon at Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are proud to be the first site in the UK to take part in this important clinical trial. If insulin resistance reduces the effectiveness of aromatase inhibitors, this is a crucial question to answer to help reduce breast cancer recurrence and improve survival.”

The study is led by the University of Oxford and funded by the Medical Research Council and the National Institute for Health and Care Research. Dr Simon Lord, Director of Oxford Cancer Trials, added: “Trans-EndoNET will help us understand whether insulin levels influence response to treatment, paving the way for future interventions alongside hormone therapy.”

Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust is known for its high recruitment to cancer trials. The hospital was also the only NHS trust in the South West involved in the LaunchPad cancer vaccine trial, which uses patients’ DNA to create personalised vaccines aimed at reducing recurrence risk.

The Trans-EndoNET study has now opened at Torbay, with 31 other hospitals across the UK expected to begin recruiting patients in the coming months.