Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of death among women in the world. In the year 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that over 2.3 million women would be diagnosed with breast cancer worldwide.

Even today, medical science is still trying to develop accurate and reliable methods to predict the recurrence of breast cancer in patients.

However, researchers have found a new hope in a blood test.

A recent study published in the journal ”Clinical Cancer Research” shows that a liquid biopsy blood test can predict the recurrence of breast cancer in patients with a high degree of accuracy.

How accurate is the test?

The study involved more than 32,000 women with early-stage ER-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer. The women were diagnosed between 2008 and 2010, and all underwent surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy.

The blood test is called the circulating tumor cell viability assay (CTC assay). It measures the presence of cancer cells in the bloodstream and assesses their viability by their ability to grow and multiply.

The researchers found that the CTC assay could predict recurrence with up to 95% accuracy.

The results of the test were compared to other clinical factors, such as age, tumor size, and lymph node status, that are currently used to predict recurrence risk in patients with breast cancer.

The CTC assay outperformed all other methods and provided more accurate results than any other clinical factor individually.

What is a liquid biopsy?

A liquid biopsy is a test that examines a blood sample to detect cancer cells and identify genetic changes or other biomarkers that may indicate cancer presence.

This technique has been used to diagnose different types of cancer, including breast cancer, prostate cancer, colon cancer, lung cancer and more.

The test is an alternative to traditional tissue biopsy examinations in which a sample of the tumor is removed and analyzed. Liquid biopsies are non-invasive and much less risky than traditional biopsies.

How does this new blood test work?

The CTC assay works by detecting and measuring the viability of specific circulating tumor cells present in the blood. These cells escape from the primary site of cancer and circulate in the bloodstream.

They have the potential to lead to the development of metastasis, spreading the cancer to other parts of the body.

By measuring the viability of these cells, doctors can predict the possibility of cancer recurrence.

The CTC assay attaches a fluorescent dye to the circulating tumor cells, and then measures the cells’ ability to divide and form colonies in vitro after being exposed to cancer drugs or radiation.

The researchers found that measuring the percentage of viable CTCs could predict recurrence risk with remarkable accuracy.

Patients with less than 5% of viable CTCs had a very low risk of recurrence, while patients with more than 20% of viable CTCs had the highest likelihood of recurrence.

What are the benefits of this new blood test?

This new blood test presents several benefits. Firstly, it provides a non-invasive alternative to traditional tumor biopsies, reducing the patient’s discomfort and recovery time.

Additionally, the test is more affordable and faster than traditional biopsies and imaging tests.

Secondly, it provides a more accurate assessment of the patient’s risk of breast cancer recurrence than other clinical factors.

This knowledge could help doctors more effectively tailor treatment plans for patients, reducing the risk of overtreatment.

Conclusion

The CTC assay shows great potential to improve the accuracy of breast cancer recurrence prediction. Such knowledge could help doctors tailor treatment plans for patients, reducing the risk of overtreatment or under-treatment.

Moreover, this blood test could help patients in monitoring recurrence after treatment. Patients with high levels of CTCs can receive more aggressive treatment, while patients with low levels of CTCs could have fewer chemotherapy sessions.