New diagnosis of breast cancer is presented

New diagnosis of breast cancer is presented: glimmer of hope for breast cancer patients

06/23/2013

Breast cancer patients and the treating physicians usually have to wait a long time before they can tell if a therapy is working. Faster results are expected in the future thanks to a new procedure. By a blood test should then be able to react faster.

Instead of three months, only three weeks until results can be determined
With around 74,000 new cases a year, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in Germany. Although some risk factors such as age, diet and lifestyle are known, the causes of an actual onset of the disease are still largely unclear. Frequently, chemotherapy is considered after diagnosis. However, in view of the side effects, use in many breast cancer patients is rather counterproductive and, if in doubt, leads to a worsening of the state of health. („“In the future, breast cancer patients could be spared long, ineffective therapies through a new blood test. By examining tumor cells circulating in the blood, physicians want to know more quickly whether therapy is working or if other medicines are needed. Professor Andreas Schneeweiss from the National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) of the University Hospital of Heidelberg and Member of the Board of the German Society for Senology (DGS) told the news agency dpa: „One can adapt the therapy better and thus increase the chances of survival.“ However, there would be no conclusive clinical evidence as to whether the disease is influenced by the method.

Experts' studies on which to make hope will be presented from 27 to 29 June at the 33rd Annual Meeting of the DGS in Munich. About 2500 doctors and other medical helpers will deal with the diseases of the breast. The blood test is to help diseased women to find the right therapy faster. According to studies, high levels of tumor cells in the blood were linked to faster disease progression and reduced survival. In the case of a change in the number of tumor cells in the blood, and thus a possible therapeutic success, this can often be detected already after the first treatment cycle. So far, a corresponding detection on the basis of X-rays or magnetic resonance examinations is possible only after about three months. „With the test we can see after three weeks, whether we are on the right track. "

Previously tested for lung or stomach cancer
The physicians in Heidelberg were also able to prove for the first time that only certain tumor cells in the blood lead to metastases. „Only a certain subgroup of cells is evil, that is, can form metastases, and we could describe them, "said Schneeweiss. „The next step is to specifically attack these cells. "Corresponding therapies are already being developed, which have been tested mainly for lung or stomach cancer, and now the scientists from Heidelberg are also trying to test this drug in breast cancer patients It will take a long time until the clinical studies are completed and a broad application is only possible from then on.According to the Women's Hospital of the University of Dusseldorf, a study is already underway at a number of centers in Germany to determine whether a targeted treatment is available Therapy, which is adapted to the appearance of the circulating tumor cells, leads to a longer chance of survival in breast cancer and hereditary breast cancer should also be another topic at the congress in Munich.