The latest breakthrough in cancer research is giving hope to breast cancer victims worldwide. New tests have shown a potentially lifesaving procedure to detect changes in cancer DNA. The project is still in its early stages; however, scientists are seeing the immense potential of the findings.
Scientists expect that the new procedure could help formulate more accurate personalized treatment methods for women afflicted with breast cancer. The test involves aligning the treatment to changes in the patient’s cancer cells.
For example, the test would look for specific changes in the patient’s genes. If the change detected involves the HER2 gene, the drug Herceptin is used, if the changes involve the oestrogen ESR1 gene would prompt doctors to give the patient other treatments like chemotherapy.
University of Leicester’s Dr. David Guttery reportedly said the discovery could save countless of lives if it can be perfected to be able to detect changes essential for the growth of breast cancer. "By analysing blood plasma to measure for cancer-specific changes to key breast cancer genes, we hope this test could help doctors and patients choose the best treatment at the best time," the doctor said.
The most astonishing breakthrough in the new test is that it is able to identify two types of DNA mutations. One of which are somatic "point" mutations, this is characterized by DNA molecules being disarranged in a way that it causes cells to multiply uncontrollably. This results to a exponential growth of proteins that produce abnormal amounts of protein.
A senior science information officer at Cancer Research UK expressed his hopefulness on how the new test could help improve the survivability of breast cancer patients. He also showed his dismay on the fact that breast cancer is one of the slowest progressing fields of research among other types of cancers.
"The researchers may have developed a way to track breast cancer as it grows, allowing doctors to act swiftly and give patients the treatments that are right for them as early as possible," she said. Breast Cancer Now and Cancer Research UK funded the new research.
The US Breast Cancer Statistics estimates that at least 12% of all women in the United States will have the invasive form of breast cancer in their lifetime. The incidence rate of breast cancer has been growing over the past years due to our surroundings becoming more polluted and conducive for gene damage.
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