Early warning test for breast cancer

A new blood test can detect breast cancer up to five years before a lump or other symptoms appear, researchers say.

New testing can detect breast cancer up to five years before other symptoms.

A new blood test can detect breast cancer up to five years before a lump or other symptoms appear, according to results of a trial that could lead to a breakthrough saving thousands of lives a year.

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer. One in eight women will be diagnosed with the disease, with 80 per cent occurring in women over the age of 50. Men can also be affected.

Rather than hunting for ­tumours, blood is screened to see if it contains the auto-antibodies that signal a tumour exists.

In the study by Nottingham University, researchers took blood samples from 180 patients. Half had breast cancer, half did not.

The scientists were able to spot breast cancer in 37 per cent of the women who had the disease by identifying these auto-antibodies in the blood.

A larger trial involving 800 ­patients is planned, scientists at Nottingham say, who will unveil details on Monday in Glasgow at the National Cancer Research ­Institute conference, one of the world’s largest forums for showcasing cancer advances.

The research paper by Daniyah Alfattani and her colleagues said the auto-antibodies “can be detected up to five years before the tumour is overt clinically”.

The blood test would give doctors the opportunity to monitor women more closely, which means treatment could start sooner, giving them the best possible chance of survival.

Kotryna Temcinaite, from British charity Breast Cancer Now described the test as “really promising”.

With a fully-funded development program, the test could be available within five years.

Mammographic screening is the most common method of ­detecting an early lesion.

THE SUNDAY TIMES