Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting women worldwide. As a complex disease, it remains challenging to treat. However, extensive research has improved our ability to manage it effectively.
Liquid biopsy is a technique that monitors the progression of breast cancer, enabling early diagnosis, prognosis prediction, and detection of relapse. It also helps guide treatment decisions.
What is a Liquid Biopsy?
A liquid biopsy is a test that analyzes tumor cells through a simple blood sample. It detects circulating tumor cells (CTCs) or tumor DNA (ctDNA) shed into the bloodstream by cancer cells.
Effectiveness in Predicting Breast Cancer Relapse
A recent study published in the medical journal JAMA Oncology provides evidence on the effectiveness of liquid biopsy in predicting breast cancer recurrence.
The study analyzed liquid biopsies from 547 women with breast cancer, five years post-diagnosis, all of whom showed no signs of recurrence at that stage.
Key findings:
- Circulating tumor cells were detected in 26 women.
- 2.6 years later, 24 of the 547 women experienced a recurrence.
- Of these, 7 had previously shown detectable CTCs in their liquid biopsy, while 17 had no evidence of tumor cells.
- This suggests patients with detectable CTCs were slightly over 13% more likely to suffer a recurrence.
Implications for Treatment
Liquid biopsy may help identify patients at higher risk of recurrence, allowing oncologists to personalize treatment plans and explore preventive strategies.
For example, women with hormone receptor-positive (HR+) breast cancer often receive over five years of hormone therapy to prevent recurrence—therapy that comes with significant side effects. However, it's not always clear who truly needs prolonged treatment.
In such cases, a liquid biopsy can guide decisions by indicating the actual risk level, helping avoid overtreatment and its associated burdens.
Notably, the study found that women with HR+ cancer and detectable tumor cells were more likely to relapse, whereas none of the women with HR- disease and detectable cells experienced recurrence, highlighting the test’s potential for risk stratification.