Investigating Copper’s Role in Breast Cancer: Dartmouth Trial Explores New Hope for Preventing Relapse
Researchers at Dartmouth Cancer Center are exploring the potential link between excess copper in the body and breast cancer metastasis in a phase two clinical trial.
Linda Vahdat, MD, MBA, the deputy director of the center and a practicing oncologist who is spearheading the trial, is focused on understanding why some breast cancer patients experience relapses after long periods of remission. She suspects that accumulated copper may play a role in reactivating dormant cancer cells. Copper is essential for various bodily functions, including nerve and blood cell production. But too much copper may be harmful to the body. Vahdat is testing whether excess copper, which the body stores when not utilized, may contribute to cancer progression.
The clinical trial aims to explore whether administration of a copper-depleting compound, tetrathiomolybdate (TM), can effectively prevent recurrence in patients with a history of breast cancer, particularly those with aggressive triplenegative breast cancer (TNBC).
While TNBC accounts for 10-20% of breast cancer cases, it is responsible for approximately 30% of breast cancer deaths, as it spreads more readily than other types of breast cancer and is challenging to manage with existing therapies. To advance new treatments, Vahdat says, “the way to prove that they work is by doing clinical trials.”
The upcoming trial will enroll 186 patients across seven sites over five years, comparing the effects of copper depletion therapy alongside standard treatments. Earlier studies indicated that copper depletion could inhibit
IN THIS ISSUE:
Investigating Copper’s Role in Breast Cancer
The Pinnacle of Our Pursuit
You’re Invited: 2025 Pinnacle Society Luncheon
tumor spread, raising hopes for this new therapeutic strategy.
Philanthropy has been essential for advancing treatment options beyond conventional chemotherapy and immunotherapy, including for Vahdat’s research, she says. “None of this would happen without philanthropy—zero.”
As the trial progresses, Vahdat and her team aim to demonstrate that managing copper levels can significantly impact cancer outcomes for high-risk patients. This innovative approach could reshape the landscape of breast cancer treatment, offering hope to those most at risk of recurrence.
To read more about Linda Vahdat’s work with copper, go to dartgo.org/Vahdat-Copper.
Researcher at Dartmouth Cancer Center
Linda Vahdat, MD, MBA, Deputy Director, Dartmouth Cancer Center
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(From left to right) Oglesby H. Young, MD (MED ’75), Pamela R. Young, Daniel R. Lucey, MD, MPH (MED ’81, D ’77), and Brita S. Reed Lucey, PsyD, MD, MTS (MED ’82, D ’76) enjoy the reception before the 2024 annual Pinnacle Society Luncheon.
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Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center was named the #1 hospital in New Hampshire by U.S. News & World Report. Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center was also recognized as “high performing” in the adult specialty of cancer, as well as in 15 other common adult procedures and conditions.
Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital (APD), a member of Dartmouth Health, has received a transformative $4 million gift from The Jack and Dorothy Byrne Foundation. The $4 million endowment will allow APD to deliver more holistic care, funding the integration of medical, social, and behavioral health services for patients with complex needs.
More than 4,500 cyclists, walkers, rowers, golfers, and volunteers raised over $8.2 million for Dartmouth Cancer Center at the 43rd annual Prouty, northern New England’s largest family-friendly fundraising event. As the Cancer Center continues to make progress in cancer research and patient care, the funds and awareness raised through The Prouty play a crucial role in advancing the mission to conquer cancer.
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