Breast Cancer Blood Test Spots Hidden Threat That Could Cause It To Return
Summary
Researchers developed a blood test that analyzes chemical tags on tumor-related DNA fragments to detect early breast cancer and estimate the risk of recurrence. In a study involving 77 patients and 30 healthy women, the test identified early cancers with 95 percent accuracy and separated patients whose cancer returned from those whose cancer did not with 81 percent accuracy; larger studies are needed before routine use.Key Facts
- The study was led by researchers at Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Weizmann Institute of Science and was published in Nature.
- The test analyzes epigenetic markers, chemical tags that affect gene activity, on DNA fragments released into the blood when cells die.
- Researchers tested blood from 77 breast cancer patients followed for at least five years and 30 healthy women.
- The test distinguished early-stage breast cancer from healthy cases with 95 percent accuracy in the study.
- Researchers found that higher levels of a marker linked to aggressive cancer cells were associated with a greater likelihood of recurrence.
- Combining that marker with other epigenetic markers distinguished patients whose cancer returned from those whose cancer did not with 81 percent accuracy.
- A medical expert said larger studies are needed before the test can be used routinely.
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