Health and Me

Itisha Arya

This Blood Test May Reveal The Right Breast Cancer Treatment Before Therapy Begins

blood test breast cancer

Scientists have created a straightforward DNA blood test that can help predict how effectively people with breast cancer will respond to treatment. Each year, more than two million individuals worldwide are diagnosed with the condition, making it the most common cancer globally. While treatment options have advanced over the years, doctors still face challenges in identifying which therapies will work best for each patient. 

Researchers have now developed a liquid biopsy that can indicate how likely a patient is to benefit from a particular treatment, even before therapy starts. This development could mark a major shift in care, as it may allow patients to move sooner to better options and avoid treatments that are unlikely to help, improving their chances of recovery. Below, we look closely at the study that explains how this blood test works.

<h2>New Blood Test Can Predict Breast Cancer Treatment</h2>

People with breast cancer could soon benefit from a new blood test that predicts treatment response before therapy begins, offering hope for better outcomes and improved quality of life. Scientists have designed a liquid biopsy that examines small fragments of cancer DNA circulating in the bloodstream. This allows doctors to see which treatments are most likely to be effective for each patient. Reported in the journal Clinical Cancer, the test could help clinicians steer away from ineffective therapies, shift patients to more suitable options earlier, and personalise treatment decisions much sooner.

Breast cancer develops when cells in the breast begin to grow abnormally and form a dangerous lump. It most often starts in the milk ducts or milk-producing glands and can spread to other areas of the body if it is not treated early. The disease occurs when changes in breast cells cause them to multiply uncontrollably. These changes may be inherited or develop over time. Known risk factors include increasing age, a family history of breast cancer, hormonal factors, excess weight, alcohol consumption and physical inactivity. In some cases, no clear cause can be identified.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), breast cancer is the most common cancer worldwide.

The research, led by scientists at the Institute of Cancer Research, examined patients with advanced breast cancer. Blood samples were used to measure levels of circulating tumour DNA, which is genetic material released into the bloodstream by cancer cells, both before treatment began and again after four weeks.

Researchers then analysed how these ctDNA levels related to patient outcomes, including tumour response to treatment and the length of time the cancer remained controlled. The findings showed a clear association between low ctDNA levels and better responses to treatment. Patients who had low or undetectable ctDNA either at the start of therapy or after just one cycle were far more likely to respond positively.

Participants were split into two groups based on cancer type and genetic mutations. The first group included patients with mutations such as ESR1, HER2, AKT1, AKT or PTEN, who were treated with targeted therapies designed to match their specific genetic changes.

The second group involved patients with triple-negative breast cancer, a particularly aggressive form that lacks targetable mutations. These patients were treated with a combination of the PARP inhibitor olaparib and the ATR inhibitor ceralasertib.

Among those with triple-negative breast cancer, patients who had low ctDNA levels before treatment saw longer periods where the disease did not worsen, averaging 10.2 months compared with 4.4 months in patients with higher ctDNA levels.

Treatment response rates were also notably higher. Tumours shrank or disappeared in 40 per cent of patients with low ctDNA, compared with only 9.7 per cent of those with higher levels.

In patients receiving targeted therapies, a similar but less pronounced pattern was seen before treatment began. However, results after four weeks were particularly strong. Patients whose ctDNA levels dropped to undetectable levels experienced far better outcomes, with cancer control lasting 10.6 months compared with 3.5 months in those whose ctDNA remained detectable.

In the triple-negative group, patients whose ctDNA disappeared after four weeks had their disease kept under control for 12 months, compared with 4.3 months for those whose ctDNA stayed detectable. Treatment response in this group rose sharply to 85.7 per cent, versus 11.4 per cent among patients with detectable ctDNA.

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Scientists have created a straightforward DNA blood test that can help predict how effectively people with breast cancer will respond to treatment. Each year, more than two million individuals worldwide are diagnosed with the condition, making it the most common cancer globally. While treatment options have advanced over the years, doctors still face challenges in identifying which therapies will work best for each patient. Researchers have now developed a liquid biopsy that can indicate how likely a patient is to benefit from a particular treatment, even before therapy starts. This development could mark a major shift in care, as it may allow patients to move sooner to better options and avoid treatments that are unlikely to help, improving their chances of recovery. Below, we look closely at the study that explains how this blood test works.New Blood Test Can Predict Breast Cancer TreatmentPeople with breast cancer could soon benefit from a new blood test that predicts treatment response before therapy begins, offering hope for better outcomes and improved quality of life. Scientists have designed a liquid biopsy that examines small fragments of cancer DNA circulating in the bloodstream. This allows doctors to see which treatments are most likely to be effective for each patient. Reported in the journal Clinical Cancer, the test could help clinicians steer away from ineffective therapies, shift patients to more suitable options earlier, and personalise treatment decisions much sooner.How Does Breast Cancer Spread?Breast cancer develops when cells in the breast begin to grow abnormally and form a dangerous lump. It most often starts in the milk ducts or milk-producing glands and can spread to other areas of the body if it is not treated early. The disease occurs when changes in breast cells cause them to multiply uncontrollably. These changes may be inherited or develop over time. Known risk factors include increasing age, a family history of breast cancer, hormonal factors, excess weight, alcohol consumption and physical inactivity. In some cases, no clear cause can be identified.According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), breast cancer is the most common cancer worldwide.What Does The Research Reveal?The research, led by scientists at the Institute of Cancer Research, examined patients with advanced breast cancer. Blood samples were used to measure levels of circulating tumour DNA, which is genetic material released into the bloodstream by cancer cells, both before treatment began and again after four weeks.Researchers then analysed how these ctDNA levels related to patient outcomes, including tumour response to treatment and the length of time the cancer remained controlled. The findings showed a clear association between low ctDNA levels and better responses to treatment. Patients who had low or undetectable ctDNA either at the start of therapy or after just one cycle were far more likely to respond positively.Participants were split into two groups based on cancer type and genetic mutations. The first group included patients with mutations such as ESR1, HER2, AKT1, AKT or PTEN, who were treated with targeted therapies designed to match their specific genetic changes.The second group involved patients with triple-negative breast cancer, a particularly aggressive form that lacks targetable mutations. These patients were treated with a combination of the PARP inhibitor olaparib and the ATR inhibitor ceralasertib.Among those with triple-negative breast cancer, patients who had low ctDNA levels before treatment saw longer periods where the disease did not worsen, averaging 10.2 months compared with 4.4 months in patients with higher ctDNA levels.Treatment response rates were also notably higher. Tumours shrank or disappeared in 40 per cent of patients with low ctDNA, compared with only 9.7 per cent of those with higher levels.In patients receiving targeted therapies, a similar but less pronounced pattern was seen before treatment began. However, results after four weeks were particularly strong. Patients whose ctDNA levels dropped to undetectable levels experienced far better outcomes, with cancer control lasting 10.6 months compared with 3.5 months in those whose ctDNA remained detectable.In the triple-negative group, patients whose ctDNA disappeared after four weeks had their disease kept under control for 12 months, compared with 4.3 months for those whose ctDNA stayed detectable. Treatment response in this group rose sharply to 85.7 per cent, versus 11.4 per cent among patients with detectable ctDNA.