Scientists in Sydney have uncovered what they think is a key reason why some patients with the most common form of breast cancer don't respond to treatment.

They have found that when a "cellular stress pathway" in the body — called JNK — is switched off, cancer cells for women with Estrogen Positive cancer can ignore treatment signals, leading to drug resistance.

• Guest: Liz Caldon, lead researcher, Conjoint Associate Professor at the St Vincent's Clinical School, UNSW
• Producer: Anne Barker