Scientists at the Queensland Institute of Medical Research (QIMR) say they have found a cure for an aggressive type of breast cancer in mice.

The scientists hope they could be trialling the treatment in women within five years.

'Triple-negative' accounts for about 20 per cent of breast cancers and usually affects younger women.

Researchers have used radiation to target protein in the tumours in the mice with a small dose of chemotherapy.

Dr Fares Al-Ejeh says the treatments destroyed the original cancer and the stem cells that make it reoccur.

"Depending on the testing and the development further of this treatment it will be probably one of the only treatments that is effective and offers longer survival," he said.

"I wish to say 'cure' as well, and it will have a significant impact on the survival of women affected by this aggressive disease.

"Currently chemotherapy is the only treatment option offered for these patients."

Dr Al-Ejeh says more testing is needed before human trials can begin but the results are promising.

"At least in mice - we have seen a complete cure, no recurrences, no disease emerging after the treatment," he said.

"We are able to treat tumours that are established in the mouse breast and we were also able to treat tumours established in distant organs, which mimics the process of disease spreading in human."