Scientists said the “truly amazing” technique could predict the chance
of developing the disease with accuracy levels of around 80 per cent.
of developing the disease with accuracy levels of around 80 per cent.
This compares with mammograms, which are around 75 per cent sensitive
- and only after cancer is present.
- and only after cancer is present.
There have also been concerns about the number of "false positives"
picked up by the breast scans, leading to thousands of women
undergoing needless treatment.
picked up by the breast scans, leading to thousands of women
undergoing needless treatment.
The new technique involves measuring all of the compounds in the blood
to build a “metabolic profile” of an individual, in order to detect changes
in the way chemicals are processed, during a pre-cancerous stage.
to build a “metabolic profile” of an individual, in order to detect changes
in the way chemicals are processed, during a pre-cancerous stage.
Scientists hope it will lead to better prevention and earlier treatment
of a disease which leads to 50,000 diagnoses and more than 11,000
deaths a year in the UK.
of a disease which leads to 50,000 diagnoses and more than 11,000
deaths a year in the UK.
Researchers from the University of Copenhagen tracked 57,000
patients over 20 years, taking blood samples from them.
patients over 20 years, taking blood samples from them.
They then compared two groups of women – all of whom were healthy
at the start of the trial, but half of whom were diagnosed with breast cancer
within seven years of providing their first blood sample.
at the start of the trial, but half of whom were diagnosed with breast cancer
within seven years of providing their first blood sample.
Lead researcher, Professor Rasmus Bro, said:
"The method is better than mammography, which can only be used when
the disease has already occurred.
"The method is better than mammography, which can only be used when
the disease has already occurred.
"It is not perfect, but it is truly amazing that we can predict breast cancer
years into the future."
years into the future."
He said the method needed to be tested on a wider population before tests
were developed.
were developed.
But he said that similar models could potentially be used to identify those
at risk of a host of diseases, by an individual’s metabolic profile.
at risk of a host of diseases, by an individual’s metabolic profile.
Prof Lars Ove Dragsted, a professor of biomedicine in the University’s Department
of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, said: "The potential is we can detect a disease
like breast cancer much earlier than today.
This is important as it is easier to treat if you discover it early. In the long term,
it will probably also be possible to use similar models to predict other diseases."
of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, said: "The potential is we can detect a disease
like breast cancer much earlier than today.
This is important as it is easier to treat if you discover it early. In the long term,
it will probably also be possible to use similar models to predict other diseases."
Many trials which attempt to predict cancer focus on the part of one single
biomarker in relation to a specific disease.
biomarker in relation to a specific disease.
However, the major study analysed every compound in a blood sample,
and the interactions between them, and identified patterns which were
common in those who went on to develop cancer.
and the interactions between them, and identified patterns which were
common in those who went on to develop cancer.
Prof Dragsted said: "No single part of the pattern is actually necessary
nor sufficient. It is the whole pattern that predicts the cancer."
nor sufficient. It is the whole pattern that predicts the cancer."
Findings from the study, developed with the Danish Cancer Society,
were published in Metabolomics.
were published in Metabolomics.
.
Samia al Qadhi, Chief Executive at Breast Cancer Care, said:
“These exciting findings could help us move a step closer to being able
to identify a woman’s individual risk of developing breast cancer.
“The earlier breast cancer is diagnosed the more effective treatment may be.
So we welcome any new research, like this, that may offer the possibility
of knowing which women may develop the disease in the future."
So we welcome any new research, like this, that may offer the possibility
of knowing which women may develop the disease in the future."
But she warned that the findings were still a long way off becoming
clinical practice, with more research needed.
clinical practice, with more research needed.
Dr Matthew Lam, senior research officer at Breakthrough Breast Cancer
and Breast Cancer Campaign, said:
"These results are interesting and we’re eager to learn more about new methods
to improve predictions of an individual’s risk of developing breast cancer.
The more accurate these predictions are, the more targeted we can be with
preventative or risk-reducing interventions."
and Breast Cancer Campaign, said:
"These results are interesting and we’re eager to learn more about new methods
to improve predictions of an individual’s risk of developing breast cancer.
The more accurate these predictions are, the more targeted we can be with
preventative or risk-reducing interventions."
He said it was important to remember that the increased risk of breast cancer
was not a certainty, so that some of the women identified would never
develop the disease.
was not a certainty, so that some of the women identified would never
develop the disease.
“Women who are worried about their breast cancer risk should discuss this
with their doctor," he said. "For some women, extra screening may be an option
as mammography remains the best tool we have to detect breast cancer
at an early stage.”
with their doctor," he said. "For some women, extra screening may be an option
as mammography remains the best tool we have to detect breast cancer
at an early stage.”
Last year, scientists from Harvard University found mutations in the blood
which could determine a person’s risk of developing blood cancer
could be identified five years before the disease emerged.
Researchers found that people with mutations in their blood were 13 times
more likely to develop cancers like leukaemia, lymphoma,
or myelodysplastic syndrome.
which could determine a person’s risk of developing blood cancer
could be identified five years before the disease emerged.
Researchers found that people with mutations in their blood were 13 times
more likely to develop cancers like leukaemia, lymphoma,
or myelodysplastic syndrome.
telegraph.co.uk
Δεν υπάρχουν σχόλια:
Δημοσίευση σχολίου