This is an archive article published on February 2, 2009

A breast cancer test ‘to predict recovery chances’

Scientists have developed what they claim is a pioneering test that can help predict a breast cancer sufferer's chance of recovery with 80 per cent accuracy.

Written by: Agencies

3 min readLondonFeb 2, 2009 04:41 PM IST First published on: Feb 2, 2009 at 04:41 PM IST

Scientists have developed what they claim is a pioneering test that can help predict a breast cancer sufferer’s chance of recovery with 80 per cent accuracy.

Until now the most common technology for breast cancer testing was ultrasound computed tomography,used in diagnosis. This uses sound waves to create a three-dimensional image and detect the disease without the use of dangerous radiation.

Now,an international team led by Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto,has designed the new testing tool,DyNeMo,which can predict the outcome in breast cancer patients,in a bid to assist doctors in making informed decisions on treatment.

According to the scientists,the new technology also analyses tumours to determine the best treatment options for individual patients,the ‘Nature Biotechnology’ journal has reported in its latest edition.

Team leader Dr Jeff Wrana wrote: “Our hope with this technology is to eventually provide individualised analysis to breast cancer patients and their oncologists so that they are better informed and empowered to select a treatment best suited to them.”

In their study,the scientists analysed more than 350 patients and found that those who survive breast cancer have a different organisation of the network of proteins within their tumour cells.

And,they found that DyNeMo can well predict a breast cancer sufferer’s chance of recovery with 80 per cent accuracy.

“This research brings us one step closer to delivering individualised medicine in which healthcare professionals will be able to provide more accurate and personalised diagnoses and treatments,” team member Jim Woodgett at the University of Toronto was quoted by ‘The Daily Telegraph’ as saying.

Breast cancer develops in the milk-producing glands in the breast,or in the passages or ducts which deliver milk to the nipples. Some cancers may even spread into the surrounding tissue,and travel to other parts of the body.

And,doctors,who estimate the tool will be available to health care providers by 2014,hope it will eventually be used to analyse other types of cancer.

Ed Yong from Cancer Research UK said: “Not all breast cancers are the same. By working out the differences between them at a molecular level,techniques like these could allow breast cancer patients to receive more personalised treatment from their doctor,but there’s still a long way to go before we get to that point.”