On November 3, 2019, ground-breaking research findings relating to cancer care and treatment were released at the National Cancer Research Institute’s (NCRI) annual conference. A conference poster presentation, entitled Simple blood test for early detection of breast cancer, seemed to create the biggest stir at the event. Though preliminary results, findings appear very promising for the future of breast cancer screening and detection.

Immunity Holds The Key To Detection

When you have a tumor inside your body, your immune system will take notice and flag the strange mass using antigens. Antigens, in turn, stimulate the production of antibodies, proteins that will circulate the body and detect any other additional breeches to your immune system. Antibodies can be disease-specific, especially with repeat exposures, and produce a more rapid immune response. (2)

However, researchers at the University of Nottingham, responsible for the NCRI poster project, conceptualized a different use for these antibodies (outside the human body!). Developing their own antigens, replications of antigens seen in breast cancer patients, the team hoped to take patients’ blood and test to see if they already had antibodies that would react with their breast cancer antigens. If antibodies were present, they hypothesized these patients would have breast cancer and test positive.

Using technology at the Centre of Excellence for Autoimmunity in Cancer, Nottingham School of Medicine, the researchers tested their hypothesis. Ultimately, the breast cancer antigens correctly detected breast cancer in 37% of the samples and correctly identified 84% of the control samples as being cancer-free. Project lead Ph.D. student Daniyah Alfattani said, “We need to develop and further validate this test…However, these results are encouraging and indicate that it’s possible to detect a signal for early breast cancer.” Some experts estimate that with further development, this test could detect breast cancer up to five years before there are any clinical signs of it. (1)

Blood Test Vs. Mammogram

Some medical experts are hailing this recent study, despite being new results, as a potential replacement for current breast detection methods. In America, the most popular means of breast cancer detection currently is the mammogram. The mammogram is a low-energy x-ray of breast tissue, which can identify abnormalities in the tissue. Clear benefits of the mammogram, as a detection method, are that the test exposes women to only very tiny doses of radiation and it is currently our best method to detect early breast cancer. Major drawbacks include high cost of operation, must be operated by skilled technicians, and diminished accuracy. False positives and false negatives do occur during mammography, and sometimes an invasive biopsy is needed to identify if a change in the breast tissue is truly malignant. A more accurate alternative to the mammogram could really benefit us here in the U.S. and in developing countries. (1, 3)

What’s Up Next?

The original study presented at NCRI was a pilot, meaning it was a smaller testing rather than a full-fledged clinical study. Working to improve the accuracy of the test, a bigger restudy of the cancer-detecting lab test is underway. Over 800 patients will have their blood analyzed in 2020 for antibodies of breast cancer and, if successful, the test may be developed further. Yet, don’t expect this test at your next family doctor appointment, as researchers estimate the development of this technology into a clinical tool is still four to five years away. (1)