A simple blood test could predict breast cancer recurrence by measuring circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in blood samples from patients in remission 5 years after diagnosis, according to reports. results of a study presented at the 40th Annual Breast Cancer Symposium in San Antonio, USA.
Researchers from the Cancer Research Consortium, ECOG-ACRIN conducted a study on a single blood sample provided by 547 patients with a breast cancerdiagnosed over five years ago and treated in a large ECOG-ACRIN breast cancer treatment trial. This group of patients had stage two or three breast cancer, and their tumor cells were HER2-negative.
An effective test to assess recurrence of breast cancer
Scientists have analyzed the use of the CTC blood test in a new way. Currently, this test is approved by the Food Drug Administration for use by physicians to monitor response to treatment in patients with advanced breast cancer, breast cancer. colonor the prostate, but not in patients with early breast cancer. In this study, the research team evaluated this test in a different context and with a different objective: in survivors of breast cancer in remission and 5 years after their diagnosis. To assess the still possible risk of recurrence of the disease.
“Our ultimate goal is to use blood tests like this to tailor treatment in a way that minimizes the risk of recurrence in people at high risk and to avoid treatment for people at low risk,” said the principal investigator. Joseph Sparano, vice-president of the ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research group. “The results of this analysis provide strong evidence to further assess this new approach to risk assessment using CTC and other blood tests in this setting.”
Read also:
Breast cancer: 6 tips to reduce your risks
Breast cancer screening: the right time is after 50
Everyone loves breasts …