Atlanta Falcons Cheerleaders Wearing Pink For Breast Cancer Awareness
Breakthrough discovery made in the treatment of breast cancer by Australian researchers. REUTERS/Tami Chappell

An Australian research revealed a breakthrough in the treatment of breast cancer. This discovery can prove to be the turning point in the treatment of several suffering breast cancer patients.

The ground-breaking discovery is done by researchers of Sydney's Garvan Institute of Medical Research, as reported by The Independent. It is found that a drug commonly used to treat patients of osteoporosis may also benefit patients with tumour in the breast.

The drug bisphosphonates was given to some breast cancer patients as part of a clinical trial in which immediate effects were observed. The drug reportedly prevented the cancer from spreading, but the exact cause of the same was not confirmed.

In the latest studies, Professor Mike Rogers, Dr. Tri Phan and Dr. Simon Junankar have used sophisticated imaging technology to discover that when this drug is consumed, it attaches to form tiny calcifications in tumours. This imaging was carried out on mice and amazing results were found.

These calcifications then devour the clumps of the tumour and mutate the cancer cells away. This is the first time that this mystery bone drug has proven itself by destroying the cancer cells and tissues before such spread in the body.

The revelation came to light following an exclusive study of about 3000 breast cancer patients. It was seen that these bone drugs showed dramatic favourable effect on the victims of breast cancer, thereby increasing their rate of survival by 25 per cent.

The tissues of the mice tested were then compared to cancerous breast tissue of a woman, which was obtained after a surgery. The two showed similar stages of calcification, which proves that the drug will have the same effect on humans as well.

The recent discovery can prove to be a boon for thousands of women who have become victims of breast cancer. The exact cause of breast cancer is yet to be ascertained, but it is believed that genes, environment and certain lifestyle factors are possible triggers of its onset. More studies and research are still underway to know the effects and uses of this drug in the treatment of other types of cancer that affect mankind.