Breast cancer is the most common cancer in UK women with around 48,000 new cases detected each year. Eight out of 10 women now survive breast cancer for more than five years, compared with five out of 10 women in the 1970s.

Dr Lesley Walker, Cancer Research UK's director of cancer information, said: "This intriguing study reveals a completely new route by which a type of oestrogen-receptor-negative breast cancer can develop. Prostate cancer depends on the androgen receptor for growth so it's a great surprise that a type of breast cancer might also be fuelled by this protein.

"Our work has underpinned today's treatments for breast cancer and helped save many thousands of lives. But there is more to be done. Patients with oestrogen-receptor-negative breast cancer have a narrow selection of treatments available, because these tumours lack the protein receptors targeted by important drugs such as tamoxifen and Herceptin. But we hope these findings will accelerate research to increase the range of therapies available for this group."

Source: Cancer Research UK