The new technique that has ‘transformed' breast cancer treatment
The Import Low trial, involving over 2,000 women, demonstrated that limiting radiation to the tumour area is as effective as treating the whole breast in preventing cancer recurrence over a decade.
Patients undergoing this partial-breast radiotherapy experienced significantly fewer side effects and changes in breast appearance compared to those receiving whole-breast treatment.
Researchers from The Institute of Cancer Research and the University of Cambridge led the study, which has "transformed" the approach to early breast cancer treatment.
This new method is now integrated into NHS treatment guidelines and informs international practices, with over 9,000 women in the UK potentially benefiting.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
25 minutes ago
- The Independent
Breast cancer breakthrough as new test could revolutionise treatment
A new test for breast cancer patients has been developed which can predict whether or not their cancer is likely to return just two weeks after they start treatment. Experts said thousands of breast cancer patients could be spared unnecessary treatment as a result. The new test has been devised by scientists to detect the likelihood of cancer reoccurring in patients with a type of breast cancer known as oestrogen receptor positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 positive – which accounts for around 200,000 cases of cancer each year around the globe. Writing in the journal eBioMedicine, experts said the test means that some patients will be able to 'de-escalate' their treatment while it could also help identify those who need 'more intensive therapeutic strategies'. The test, which was developed by scientists at The Institute for Cancer Research, London, correctly identifies the 6% of patients at highest risk of relapse. Researchers analysed tumour samples from 213 patients. They found that two weeks of hormone therapy changes the characteristics of some tumours, causing them to shift their subtype. The patients with the highest risk of cancer returning had a type of tumour called Luminal B that did not change after this short-term hormone therapy. Experts said these patients will require more intensive treatment. They said the findings highlight the benefit of two weeks of hormone therapy before surgery to help guide doctors' decision making. Corresponding author of the study, Dr Maggie Cheang, from The Institute of Cancer Research, London, said: 'To deliver truly personalised care, we need to refine how we classify breast cancer, so that each patient receives the treatment most likely to benefit them. 'While current classification relies on hormone receptor and HER2 status, we know that patients within these groups can respond very differently to the same therapy. 'Our earlier research identified distinct molecular subtypes within HER2-positive, oestrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. In this new study, we've shown that these subtypes can shift after just two weeks of hormone therapy. 'This insight helps us identify which patients are likely to respond well and which may show early signs of treatment resistance, offering the opportunity to tailor treatment strategies sooner. 'Ultimately, our findings move us closer to more precise, patient-centred care for this overlooked breast cancer subtype.' Professor Kristian Helin, chief executive of The Institute of Cancer Research, London, added: 'By decoding the underlying biology of tumours, we can tailor treatments to individual patients.' Dr Simon Vincent, chief scientific officer at Breast Cancer Now, which part-funded the study, said: 'These findings add to the growing evidence that genomic testing can play a powerful role in helping to predict the risk of a woman's breast cancer coming back, particularly in people with ER-positive, HER2-positive breast cancer. 'There's potential for women to benefit hugely from this research in the future, with it ensuring they avoid undergoing unnecessary treatment and leading to more personalised treatment plans, so that women receive the most effective therapy for their specific type of breast cancer.'
BBC News
25 minutes ago
- BBC News
Wasps are back this summer in the UK – a lot of them
John Horsley was gardening when he felt a wasp crawl down his T-shirt."That stung me a few times in the back," he says. "It wasn't a pleasant experience."Part of the British Pest Control Association, John is well-versed in the problems wasps can cause gate-crashing picnics or beer gardens on a summer's day, and building bothersome a downtick in wasp callouts in recent summers, his industry has been busier than usual tackling problems caused by wasps this year, he says. These can include large nests appearing earlier in the are currently still raising their young, but later in the summer they tend to congregate in public areas seeking a sugary snack before they die. So is this shaping up to be a summer of the wasp? "We don't have plagues of insects," Mr Horsley explains. "But it seems that every few years, wasps will have a strong year and that commonly coincides with particular weather patterns – this year it's been very warm and very dry – it's been a very good year for them."The Met Office says we have had the warmest spring in more than 50 years. Last year, the UK had its coolest summer for nine of the world's leading wasp experts, Prof Seirian Sumner of University College London, cautions that scientific data on wasp numbers will not be released for a her gut feeling is that "all the signs are, based on the weather and other insect populations, it is going to be a good year for wasps". The UK has about 9,000 species of wasps - most of them solitary, meaning they don't live in large colonies and are generally not a nuisance to a small number are social wasps, such as the common wasp, Vespula vulgaris, which is most common for interacting with humans. According to a 2021 YouGov poll, they are the second most disliked insect in the UK, after the Prof Sumner and other wasp experts point out that wasps are not all bad."They are really important parts of the ecosystem – they're apex predators," she says."Take a top predator out of any system – like the lion out of Serengeti – it has knock-on effects in the prey populations that will then go unchecked by their predator."And wasps are free, natural pest controllers – so they are doing jobs in our gardens, in our wild landscapes, in our farming landscapes. They are helping keep pests at bay." Living alongside wasps - without being stung Nikki Banfield, of the insect charity Buglife, says we need to look after wasps."A lot of people don't like wasps, they class them as angry bees, but they have a really valid purpose in the natural world," she that wider natural world, recent studies show widespread declines in global insect populations, with some insect species being pushed towards loss is linked to intensive agriculture, pesticides and climate change, with far-reaching consequences for the many birds, amphibians, bats and reptiles that rely on insects for the common wasp appears to be bucking this trend – its population remaining stable over the past 100 years – along with houseflies, cockroaches and the European hornet, which is increasing across the UK and moving northward as the climate warms. Sightings of the invading Asian or yellow-legged hornet, which arrived in the UK in 2016, are also on the rise.And after a poor year for butterflies in 2024, naturalists say many common species, such as the Large White, also appear to be flourishing this summer.Ladybirds too, seem to be enjoying the warmer temperatures, according to luckily for the ecosystem – but perhaps unluckily for our picnics – wasps appear to be thriving here in the UK. How can we live alongside each other happily then?Ms Banfield suggests we leave something sweet, such as a small cap of jam or orange juice, a short distance from the picnic area to distract the practical tips include not screaming, flapping your arms or swatting at wasps, as this will agitate them and make them more stings can pose a public health risk – they can cause anaphylactic shock - Mr Horsley points out, so he has a word of advice."Don't disturb them. Try and stay away from them where possible, and, if it needs to be treated then speak to a professional," he says.
Daily Mail
25 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
New test taken two weeks after starting treatment for breast cancer can tell if the disease is likely to return
A new test taken two weeks after starting treatment for breast cancer can tell if the disease is likely to return. The breakthrough could spare thousands of patients unnecessary therapy while allowing others to receive more intensive care sooner. Researchers at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, found taking hormone drugs for a fortnight changed the characteristics of some tumours, causing them to shift their subtype. Patients with the highest risk of relapsing had a type of tumour called Luminal B that did not change after this short-term therapy. These cases, accounting for 6 per cent of the 213 patients studied, require more intensive treatment that others could avoid. Experts say the findings, published in the journal eBioMedicine, highlight the benefit of taking hormone therapy before surgery to help guide doctors' decision making. The new test works for a type of breast cancer known as oestrogen receptor positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 positive, of which there are around 200,000 cases globally each year. Study author Dr Maggie Cheang, from the ICR, said: 'To deliver truly personalised care, we need to refine how we classify breast cancer, so that each patient receives the treatment most likely to benefit them. 'While current classification relies on hormone receptor and HER2 status, we know that patients within these groups can respond very differently to the same therapy. 'Our earlier research identified distinct molecular subtypes within HER2-positive, oestrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. 'In this new study, we've shown that these subtypes can shift after just two weeks of hormone therapy. 'This insight helps us identify which patients are likely to respond well and which may show early signs of treatment resistance, offering the opportunity to tailor treatment strategies sooner. 'Ultimately, our findings move us closer to more precise, patient-centred care for this overlooked breast cancer subtype.' Professor Kristian Helin, chief executive of the IRC, added: 'By decoding the underlying biology of tumours, we can tailor treatments to individual patients.' Dr Simon Vincent, chief scientific officer at charity Breast Cancer Now, which part-funded the study, said: 'These findings add to the growing evidence that genomic testing can play a powerful role in helping to predict the risk of a woman's breast cancer coming back, particularly in people with ER-positive, HER2-positive breast cancer. 'There's potential for women to benefit hugely from this research in the future, with it ensuring they avoid undergoing unnecessary treatment and leading to more personalised treatment plans, so that women receive the most effective therapy for their specific type of breast cancer.'
