Dr. David Lim Receives Grant to Support Breast Cancer Research

In an effort to keep up with the ongoing advancements in the field of breast cancer research, Breast Cancer Canada has announced $500k in funding to support breakthrough projects in scientific discovery, screening and detection, treatment, and patient outcomes. 

By: Marielle Boutin

Among the grant recipients is IHPME faculty member Dr. David Lim. Dr. Lim is also a Breast Surgical Oncologist at Women’s College Hospital and a Surgeon-Scientist at Women’s College Research Institute.  

An Assistant Professor in the Clinical Epidemiology and Health Care Research (CEHCR) program, Dr. Lim was awarded $75,000 to uncover gene patterns that can predict the outcomes of invasive lobular breast cancer, a less studied strain of the disease with a worse survival rate.  

Lobular breast cancer is characterized by the loss of a protein called E-cadherin, which helps cells stick together, so the cancers do not form lumps or change the breast’s shape. This can make it hard to spot, leading to extensive spread by the time it is found. Surgery is also difficult as the full scope of spread is often underestimated, increasing the risk of leaving cancer behind. 

Additionally, Lobular breast cancer does not respond well to chemotherapy and is typically treated with hormone therapy using estrogen blocking pills, however very often, this type of cancer can become resistant to this treatment over time. 

Dr. Lim and his research team will collaborate with over 13 hospital centres and institutions across Canada to study lobular breast cancer by collecting specimens from patients at the time of surgery. Their goal is to analyze the entire DNA of the samples to discover specific gene patterns that can predict outcomes, such as patient death and the risk of recurrence.  

“We need a better way to prognosticate patients with lobular breast cancer, and that is the goal of this funded research,” says Dr. Lim.  

Breast cancer treatments continue to become more personalized based on tumour type, however, according to Dr. Lim, treatments for lobular breast cancers are not as personalized due to the lack of research into the biological differences between lobular and ductal breast cancer.  

Dr. Lim is optimistic that the discovery of novel biomarkers, genetic alterations, and variations in transcriptomic features will allow for better personalized treatments for patients. 

“In clinical practice, lobular breast cancer is treated the same as the more common ductal breast cancer subtype,” says Dr. Lim. “However, research shows that in the long-term, patients with lobular breast cancer are at high risk of recurrence, even after 10 years since the initial diagnosis, and have worse survival compared with ductal breast cancer. This underscores the need for and importance of studying lobular breast cancer more in-depth.” 

As he and his team prepare to launch their study, Dr. Lim is eager to begin shining a spotlight on lobular breast cancer, aiming to enhance patient outcomes and drive impactful change in the field of cancer research.