Blood test could detect breast cancer early

Researchers will look for DNA markers that differ in women who do and don't have breast cancer.

Adapted from a news release issued by Cancer Research UK

A simple blood test could one day be a more accurate way to test for the early signs of breast cancer than using mammograms to spot a lump, say researchers today as Breast Cancer Awareness Month gets underway.

They also hope the blood test could improve treatment by detecting whether breast cancer patients are likely to relapse and what drugs their particular type of tumour will respond to.

This pioneering new clinical study – funded by Cancer Research UK in collaboration with the University of Leicester and Imperial College London – is about to start in the UK’s largest breast screening clinic at Charing Cross Hospital, London.

Researchers will take blood samples from women attending the breast screening clinic and compare the DNA in the blood of women who are diagnosed with breast cancer with those that do not have cancer to see what DNA markers are consistent.

Professor Charles Coombes, co-investigator and Cancer Research UK’s breast cancer expert at the Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, said: “This type of translational science is extremely promising and the international scientific community is collaborating on its development. When a woman has breast cancer we can tell by the DNA in their blood. But what we’re trying to find out in our study is how early the signs of breast cancer show up in a blood test. So by looking at blood samples of women who have breast cancer diagnosed through screening we can see if the cancer is already showing in their blood.

“Our research team is only looking at breast cancer, but there are a number of other projects that are looking at using a blood test to detect other cancers such as bowel and lung.”

Dr Jacqui Shaw, principal investigator from the University of Leicester, said: “This exciting research means we could one day have a blood test that detects the very early signs of cancer meaning women could have an annual blood test rather than breast screening. This would remove any worry and anxiety for women who are called for further investigations after a mammogram only to find they don’t have cancer.

"As things stand we aren't able to monitor breast cancer patients after they’ve had surgery and treatment - which is like treating diabetes but not measuring blood sugar levels. This new blood test could change that."

Kate Law, director of clinical research at Cancer Research UK, said: “We really do hope that in the not too distant future a simple blood test for breast cancer, which could not only detect cancer but help with treatment options, will become standard practice on the NHS.