A BLOOD test that can spot the return of breast cancer up to two years earlier than existing tests could soon be available.
To spot signs of a recurrence, people who have had breast cancer have mammograms that detect breast lumps and blood tests that look for a cancer antigen called CA 27.29. These blood tests are not very sensitive, says at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana: “Most recurrences are detected after symptoms [are reported].”
To improve sensitivity, Raftery’s team analysed 250 blood samples from 56 people who had had breast cancer taken over five years – 20 of whom had another bout of cancer during this time – and identified nine substances produced as a result of the new tumours. They developed a test for the substances and, using the same samples, compared its sensitivity with current blood tests.
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“Recurrence is detected two years earlier than current blood tests show a positive result,” says Raftery, who presented the results last week at a meeting of the in San Diego. He hopes the new test will be available by the end of the year.