New jab could help protect women from cancer

American scientists are reporting a breakthrough in their efforts to develop a vaccination against one form of breast cancer.

In laboratory tests on mice, the jabs stopped the disease in its tracks 75 per cent of the time.

Sarah Singer had both breasts removed after inheriting the breast cancer gene from her grandmother, who died from the disease.

"[It] meant my chances of getting breast cancer and ovarian cancer were very high," she said.

Sarah underwent the same radical surgery chosen by Hollywood superstar Angelina Jolie.

But now a simple vaccination tested on mice could significantly cut genetic cases of ductal carcinoma.

"This is very exciting (a) new approach to treating breast cancer and potentially even preventing breast cancer," Dr Alison Butt from the National Breast Cancer Foundation said.

Ductal Carcinoma is a cancer of the milk ducts affecting 1600 Australian women each year.

Ductal Carcinoma alone is not deadly, or invasive, but women who have it have a higher risk of developing more dangerous forms of breast cancer.

Scientists targeted a gene strongly linked to breast cancer. They injected mice with what's called 'small interfering RNA' forcing that gene to shut down.

"It may be possible to stop breast cancer in its tracks very early on in the disease and maybe even reverse it," Dr Alison Butt said.

But the Breast Cancer Foundation warns that it can be years before such breakthroughs result in a drug's commercial availability.