Sweden | A validated blood-based tracking method can identify breast cancer patients at high risk of recurrence by catching molecular signs of relapse long before tumors become clinically visible. The non-invasive technology tracks circulating tumor DNA in the bloodstream by mapping the unique genetic fingerprint of a patient’s primary tumor, offering a highly precise way to monitor how a patient responds to chemotherapy treatments.In a prospective study tracking 136 participants over six years, the specialized liquid biopsy detected molecular indicators of recurrence an average of 13.8 months before the disease could be identified via traditional imaging or physical symptoms. For certain high-risk individuals, the test flagged residual cancer fragments nearly four years ahead of standard diagnostic timelines. Because the method evaluates ongoing tumor dynamics faster and more affordably than advanced genetic sequencing, clinical researchers suggest it could fundamentally optimize future oncological care—allowing doctors to aggressively escalate treatments for high-risk patients while sparing low-risk individuals from unnecessary side effects.
Source: Lund University
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