A professor from the University of Sheffield’s School of Medicine and Population Health has received more than 拢0.39m ($0.45m) in funding from Breast Cancer Now to develop a blood test that could predict the likelihood of breast cancer spreading to the bone.
According to the university, an estimated 61,000 individuals are living with this condition in the country, with bones being the prevalent area for its spread.
By analysing certain proteins in the blood, the test aims to detect early warning signs of secondary breast cancer, which occurs due to the spreading of cancer cells from the primary cancer in the breast to other body parts and is treatable but not curable.
Professor Janet Brown and her team have previously detected 16 proteins produced by breast cancer cells that are prone to spread to the bones.
These proteins can be identified in blood samples at the disease’s early stages, even before the cancer has metastasised.
The team will now examine up to 400 samples of blood from individuals with primary breast cancer who were part of two extensive trials.
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By GlobalDataThe subjects were observed for five to ten years to monitor if they developed secondary breast cancer.
Additionally, the researchers plan to use advanced computing techniques to determine which combination of the 16 proteins predicts the onset of secondary breast cancer in the bone.
The goal of this research is to develop a simple test comprising three to five key proteins, which could revolutionise how breast cancer patients are monitored and treated.
This test would enable physicians to better assess each individual’s risk and tailor treatment accordingly.
Brown said: 鈥淢y team鈥檚 working on creating a blood test to predict the risk of future breast cancer spreading to the bone, so that we can better support people at higher risk, while sparing those at lower risk from unnecessary treatments.鈥�
This initiative aligns with the university鈥檚 cancer research strategy, which focuses on preventing the mortalities related to cancer through quality research.
