About AURORA

Overview

AURORA is an international, academic research programme that uses molecular technologies to analyse the genetic characteristics of a tumour and identify the changes (genetic aberrations) that drive disease evolution over time in patients with recurrent or locally relapsed metastatic breast cancer. AURORA seeks to address an important unmet need in metastatic breast cancer and gain a deeper understanding of this complex largely incurable disease.

Research Approach

By analysing the molecular profile of tissue from a patient's primary tumour and comparing it to tissue from the metastatic tumour and blood samples, AURORA aims to track disease evolution over time and better understand the biological events driving cancer progression. AURORA researchers also hope to uncover the various mechanisms of resistance or response to standard treatments and targeted therapies. Insights from AURORA could lead to new treatment strategies enabling prolonged disease control in patients affected by metastatic breast cancer.

Organization

The programme was set up and led by the Breast International Group and is coordinated by BIG Headquarters in collaboration with the Institut Jules Bordet's Clinical Trials Support Unit (IJB-CTSU) and Frontier Science Scotland (FSS).

Funding & Support

AURORA is made possible by generous grants from the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF), the main funder of the programme, as well as Fondation Cancer (Luxembourg); Pfizer (grant for non-drug research); Fondation contre le Cancer (Belgium); National Lottery (Belgium) and all its players; NIF Foundation; Barrie and Dena Webb; Candriam; the Fund Friends of BIG managed by the King Baudouin Foundation; Martine Piccart; the Hotimsky family; Sogerim; Think Pink Belgium (SMART Fund); Cognizant Foundation; Eurofins Foundation; Fondation Futur 21; and many individual donors.

Overview

Research Approach

Organization

Funding & Support

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