Liquid biopsy predicts early disease progression, potential survival in patients with advanced breast cancer
A novel, automated liquid biopsy test in development by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center can be used to predict early disease progression and potential survival among patients with metastatic breast cancer in as little as one month after starting treatment, according to a recent study.
The test — so far, a prototype for research use only — was able to identify the presence of cancer DNA in one or more of nine genes commonly altered in breast cancers in blood samples from women actively undergoing breast cancer treatment. Methylation is a type of chemical tag associated with cancer development and progression for its ability to turn off tumor suppressor genes. Patients with high cumulative methylation at week four of treatment had a significantly shorter progression-free survival (the length of time in which the disease does not worsen) and worse overall survival than those who had low cumulative methylation.
Researchers used methylation levels measured at week four to develop a new model to predict risk of early disease progression in women with metastatic breast cancer. Study results were published in the journal Clinical Cancer Research.
