Major News

A breakthrough test has been developed to help predict the risk of breast cancer recurring which will help patients avoid months of unnecessary chemotherapy.

Scientists have developed a cost effective test to help identify which of the 37,000 women diagnosed with ER positive breast cancer each year are at risk of the disease returning. The scientists are from The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) and Queen Mary, University of London and are funded by Breakthrough Breast Cancer, Cancer Research UK and The Royal Marsden NIHR Biomedical Research Centre. They believe this approach, which could be rolled out within the next 1 to 2 years, will help doctors identify high risk patients early on, allowing for more targeted treatment and avoiding unnecessary chemotherapy for those at lower risk of recurrence.

Study co-leader Professor Mitch Dowsett, from the Breakthrough Breast Cancer Research Centre at the ICR and The Royal Marsden Hospital, said:
“This is excellent news for women who are diagnosed with ER positive breast cancer. It is a major step towards more personalised and targeted treatment of breast cancer, which will mean that women can avoid unnecessary chemotherapy and its toxic side effects.”

For more information visit: http://www.breakthrough.org.uk/media_centre/news_views/test_predicts_cancer.html