The PIK3CA genetic mutation is a mutation that affects around 1 in 4 women with breast cancer. Breast cancer patients with the PIK3CA mutation respond poorer to chemotherapy and may potentially develop resistance to hormone therapy. Getting a genetic test to discover the PIK3CA mutation can help doctors and patients decide on a tailored treatment plan for better outcomes.

However, genetic tests for the PIK3CA mutation are not currently publicly funded. Potential and diagnosed breast cancer patients also have a low awareness of the implications of the PIK3CA mutation and do not know that taking an extra step to take the test could impact treatment.

Novartis asked us to raise awareness of the PIK3CA genetic mutation amongst women in Hong Kong. Key objectives were 1) heightened awareness of PIK3CA and 2) increased inquiries for genetic testing.

The See What Lies Beneath exhibition centres around the idea that an extra step is not 'extra' – it can be essential to a breast cancer patient's treatment journey.

We created an exhibition where the second look is more important than the first glance, as it reveals a hidden layer of artwork and text not visible to the naked eye. All the artwork is created with a double-overlay effect, and the hidden layer can be seen using a red filter. The hidden layer includes untold stories from breast cancer patients and information about the PIK3CA genetic mutation.

By making visitors take an extra step to enjoy the exhibition, we want them to understand that some truths about breast cancer – emotional, genetic or clinical – need more effort to find out.

Our primary target audience is women from their late 20s to their early 50s, as they are most likely to be diagnosed patients / become diagnosed with breast cancer.

Our research reveals that most women in Hong Kong are aware of the benefits of early detection, and the campaign space is saturated with information about self-checks. Few campaigns focus on education beyond self-checks, and genetic mutations are rarely mentioned.

To cut through the noise, we needed to create a stand-out campaign. Most breast cancer campaigns are purely informative, so we created an immersive exhibition where the viewing experience echoes our key message: an extra step can reveal the truth underneath. We also packaged the exhibition as a trendy lifestyle event, and visitors only understood our campaign messages once inside.

The exhibition was held from 4 to 9 March 2021. The extended media and digital campaign, including teaser social media posts and post-launch educational activities, was around three months in total.

To ensure that our exhibition attracted the target audience, we made sure it resembled a fashionable lifestyle event rather than a medical exhibit. The exhibition artwork included a local actress, Sofiee Ng, popular amongst Hong Kong women, to arouse curiosity amongst female passers-by and draw them to our exhibition.

This was complemented by a digital campaign. We engaged lifestyle media, fashion KOLs and Sofiee Ng to share the event on their social pages, ensuring more Hong Kong women would learn about and visit our exhibition. After the exhibition, we had media coverage to educate the public about the PIK3CA mutation.

Media coverage propelled PIK3CA into public consciousness, resulting in 9.5 million impressions (HK population: 7 million)

1,309% increase to dedicated genetic testing website

Since its launch, public oncology centres and 50% of Hong Kong oncologists have started arranging PIK3CA tests for patients.

Novartis has expanded this campaign beyond Hong Kong to six other Asian countries: India, the Philippines, Turkey, South Africa, Malaysia and South Korea.

And the campaign made a difference in one life: One visitor discovered her own breast cancer after visiting the exhibition.