Scientists are celebrating a “milestone” find they claim will help develop drugs to specifically target the genes that cause breast cancer.

Researchers from the Sanger Institute in Cambridge studied 560 breast cancers to map out the exact genes that, if mutated, cause cancer to develop.

Professor Sir Mike Stratton, who led the study, said it was a particularly momentous discovery as drugs could now be developed that target those very genes.

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The Mother’s Day Classic raises much-needed funds for breast cancer research. Photo: MDC/Supplied

“It turns out, now we have this complete view of breast cancer – there are 93 of those [genes] that if mutated will convert a normal breast cell into a breast cancer cell. That is an important piece of information,” he told ABC radio.

“We know already that developing drugs against these mutated genes or their proteins is a very good way of developing drugs against cancer.”

Prof Stratton told BBC similar drugs had been on the market for over a decade, with proven success.

Closer to ‘zero death’ goal

The remarkably intense research involved the study of all three billion letters in the genetic codes of 560 people with breast cancer.

Dr Sarah Hosking, CEO of the National Breast Cancer Foundation said the results could take future breast cancer treatments to a new level.

“Understanding the gene mutations that cause breast cancer will enable treatments to be more personalised than they are now, and for new drugs to be developed, particularly for breast cancers that are currently lacking in targeted treatment options,” she told The New Daily.

“Ultimately these developments could lead to better outcomes for the women and men diagnosed with breast cancer, and brings us closer to our goal of zero deaths from breast cancer by 2030.”

Revellers at last year’s event. Photo: MDC/Supplied

But speaking to the BBC, Professor Stratton warned that cancer is a “devious beast” that has ways of evolving and developing resistance to new drugs.

The bad news

While the benefits of the research are potentially game-changing, the results bring bad news for some.

According to the study, 60 per cent of breast cancers come from just ten genes – meaning people with those genes are especially predisposed to the disease.

Luckily, the researchers say their findings should bring us closer to “personalised care” for individual cancer cases.

Significantly, researchers are still trying to figure out just what causes certain genes to mutate in the first place.

They know it’s sometimes to do with family risk, but many of the causes are yet to be confirmed.

It’s not too late to take place in this year’s event. Register or donate at www.mothersdayclassic.com.au.

The New Daily is a media partner of the Women in Super Mother’s Day Classic, which takes place in 100 locations around Australia on Sunday May 8, raising money for the National Breast Cancer Foundation to help fund breast cancer research.