Latest news with #liquidbiopsy
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Major discovery about 'invisible' breast tumours that are too small to show up on scans
Thousands of women have been thrown a lifeline thanks to a 'next generation' drug that can destroy breast cancer tumours, months before they even grow. The daily pill, known as camizestrant, stops cancer cells from developing, slowing the spread of the disease and delaying the need for gruelling chemotherapy. Around seven in ten breast cancer patients in the UK have a type of the disease known as HR positive HER-2 negative breast cancer—the most common form. Of these, around 40 per cent can develop an aggressive genetic mutation that makes their outlook incredibly bleak. But the 'transformational' trial found patients given the drug camizestrant saw their risk of the cancer progressing slashed by more than half. It was also the first worldwide study that showed blood tests, rather than scans, can pick up early signs of cancer returning. Doctors first used the test, known as a liquid biopsy, to spot changes in the cancer's DNA—when they found signs of an ESR1 mutation, some patients were given camizestrant, while others stayed on their usual treatment. Experts presenting the findings today at the American Society for Clinical Oncology conference (ASCO) in Chicago, hailed it a 'pivotal moment in breast cancer care' and 'truly fundamental shift in how we approach cancer'. The drug is already being fast-tracked for use in the US and has been sent for approval in the UK. Professor Nicholas Turner, an expert in molecular oncology at The Institute of Cancer Research, London and the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, who co-led the major trial, said: 'This is a pivotal moment in breast cancer care. 'This proactive approach also redefines how we think about drug resistance in this type of breast cancer. 'This is a potential new treatment strategy in oncology to treat developing resistance before it causes disease progression.' Professor Kristian Helin, chief executive of The Institute of Cancer Research, London, added: 'The results represent more than a clinical milestone—they represent a transformational shift in how we approach precision medicine. 'It is very exciting to see this technology being used to delay disease progression in patients and extend the benefits of treatment in patients with this type of advanced breast cancer and delay the need for chemotherapy for as long as possible. 'These breakthroughs are helping shape personalised breast cancer treatment, allowing doctors to adjust therapies earlier and improve patient outcomes.' In the trial, 3,325 patients HR positive HER-2 negative advanced breast cancer from 23 countries were screened for ESR1 mutations using a liquid biopsy every eight to 12 weeks. Of these, 315 women who tested positive for an ESR1 mutation were given either AstraZeneca's camizestrant and a medicine known as a CDK4/6 inhibitor or another hormone therapy as well as a CDK4/6 inhibitor. Researchers found those on the camizestrant combination slashed their risk of death or the cancer progressing by 56 per cent. The drug also kept the cancer at bay for 16 months on average compared to 9.2 months on standard treatment. Just one per cent of patients stopped taking the drug over side effects. Presenting the findings at ASCO, Susan Galbraith, executive vice president of oncology at AstraZeneca said the drug had now been given 'breakthrough therapy designation' by the Food and Drugs Administration in the US, helping to speed up regulatory review. 'We are having ongoing discussions with regulatory authorities including the UK', added. Dave Fredickson, AstraZeneca's executive vice president of oncology business unit, also said the drug demonstrated a 'truly fundamental shift in how we approach cancer care. 'We're moving away from a one size fits all era and targeting cancer early.' Meanwhile, Dr Catherine Elliott, director of research at Cancer Research UK, said: 'This study is a clear example of how blood tests are starting to transform cancer treatment. 'By tracking tiny traces of tumour DNA in the blood, researchers were able to spot early signs of treatment resistance and switch therapies before cancer had a chance to grow. 'It shows how circulating tumour DNA—or ctDNA—could help doctors make smarter, more timely treatment decisions. 'This approach could become an important part of how we personalise care for people with advanced breast cancer.'
Reuters
an hour ago
- Business
- Reuters
Blood test-guided treatment with AstraZeneca pill cut risk of breast cancer progression, study finds
CHICAGO, June 1 (Reuters) - Treating breast cancer patients with AstraZeneca's (AZN.L), opens new tab experimental pill camizestrant at the first sign of resistance to standard treatments cut the risk of disease progression or death by half, a finding that could change the way such cancers are treated, cancer experts said on Sunday. The results, presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting in Chicago, mark the first use of a blood test called a liquid biopsy to indicate the need for a change in treatment in women with a common form of breast cancer, even before tumor growth can be detected on imaging. The early switch approach in women with hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer resulted in a 56% reduction in the risk of disease progression or death, said Dr. Eleonora Teplinsky, an oncologist at Valley-Mount Sinai Comprehensive Cancer Care and an ASCO breast cancer expert. "When patients progress on scans, we're already behind," Teplinsky said at a media briefing. She said an early switch approach, before disease progression, allows doctors "to essentially stay ahead of the curve." Camizestrant is not yet FDA-approved, but Teplinsky believes the data will likely result in a new treatment paradigm. The trial involved 3,256 patients with advanced hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer, the most common type in which hormones such as estrogen fuel cancer growth. These cancers lack high levels of HER2, another cancer driver. Women in the trial had at least six months of treatment with aromatase inhibitors that block hormones fueling the cancer, as well as targeted drugs called CDK4/6 inhibitors such as Novartis' (NOVN.S), opens new tab Kisqali, Pfizer's (PFE.N), opens new tab Ibrance or Lilly's (LLY.N), opens new tab Verzenio, which block an enzyme that fuels cancer growth. About 40% of patients treated with aromatase inhibitors develop mutations in the estrogen receptor 1 gene called ESR1 mutations, a sign of early drug resistance. Camizestrant and similar drugs called Selective Estrogen Receptor Degraders (SERDS) block estrogen receptor signaling in cancer cells. In the trial, researchers used blood tests to look for ESR1 mutations until 315 patients were identified. They were randomly assigned to either switch to camizestrant plus the CDK4/6 inhibitor (157 patients) or continue with standard treatment plus a placebo (158 patients). The researchers found that it took 16 months for the disease to progress in women who got camizestrant, compared with 9.2 months in those who continued on standard therapy, a statistically significant difference in progression-free survival. No new side effects were reported and few patients from either group dropped out due to side effects. "This is going to be very impactful for our patients," said Dr. Hope Rugo, head of breast medical oncology at City of Hope in Duarte, California. The question, she said, is how do doctors incorporate the testing into clinical practice. Separately, adding AstraZeneca's immunotherapy durvalumab to standard treatment before and after surgery in patients with early-stage stomach and esophageal cancers helped extend the time patients had without cancer progression or recurrence compared to chemotherapy alone. The global study of nearly 950 patients tested durvalumab, sold under the brand Imfinzi, in combination with a chemotherapy regimen called FLOT given around the time of initial cancer surgery. Patients in the durvalumab plus FLOT arm experienced a 29% better event-free survival than those who received the chemotherapy regimen. "We demonstrate that immunotherapy works in early-stage disease, which is great," lead study author Dr. Yelena Jarnigan of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York told reporters at the meeting. "We did not see any new safety signals, so this will change practice for our patients, which is exciting to see." Both studies were published on Sunday in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
World-first NHS cancer blood test to fast-track personalised treatment for thousands of patients
Thousands of cancer patients are set to benefit from a world-first NHS blood test that speeds up access to treatment and avoids the need for invasive biopsies. The screening—known as a liquid biopsy—is being rolled out to around 15,000 patients with suspected lung cancer, NHS England has announced. There are also plans to expand it to advanced breast cancer and, potentially, prostate cancer patients in the near future. It works by analysing fragments of tumour DNA found in a simple blood sample, allowing doctors to quickly identify genetic mutations that can be matched to targeted therapies. This means treatment can begin far sooner, without waiting for traditional tissue biopsy results. Officials said the rollout marks the first time any health system in the world has adopted a 'blood test-first' approach for cancer on a national scale. The test will also be offered to around 5,000 women a year with advanced breast cancer who have not responded to standard treatment, helping doctors determine whether they are eligible for precision drugs. Scientists are also exploring its use for other forms of the disease including pancreatic and gallbladder cancers. Lung cancer is typically diagnosed with scans and a tissue biopsy, where a small tumour sample is examined under a microscope to assess the nature of the disease. Although genetic testing can be done on tissue, it is time-consuming as samples must be sent to a lab. Liquid biopsies offer faster results, using a far less invasive method. Around 10,000 people with non-small cell lung cancer—the most common form—have already received the test as part of an NHS pilot involving 176 hospitals. Patients who had a liquid biopsy were able to start treatment an average of 16 days earlier than those who had tissue samples taken. Independent analysis suggests the test could save the NHS up to £11 million a year in lung cancer care. The NHS said it was also expanding testing in advanced breast cancer, with several genetic variations now being screened for and around 5,000 women set to benefit per year. Professor Peter Johnson, NHS national clinical director for cancer, said: 'Liquid biopsies are leading us into a new era of personalised cancer care… it's fantastic we can now expand this revolutionary test to help tailor treatment for thousands more patients.' Prof Johnson added: 'Cutting-edge genomic testing is helping us deliver more targeted and kinder care for patients, enabling some to avoid more intensive treatments such as further chemotherapy, which can have a huge impact. 'We are already seeing the difference this test can make in lung and breast cancer, and we hope to roll it out for patients with other forms of cancer in the near future. 'As research progresses, it's exciting that this approach has the potential to help us 'scan' the body in a single blood test to see where and how cancer may be developing and target it with speed and precision to help save more lives.' Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the rollout would 'give thousands of people peace of mind.' Professor Dame Sue Hill, chief scientific officer for England, added: 'This represents a real step-change in care for eligible lung and breast cancer patients on the NHS. 'This testing is transforming care and helping clinicians match patients earlier, especially when cancer tissue may not be available with potentially life-extending targeted therapies rapidly and with greater precision. 'This test is a great example of the NHS harnessing the power of genomic technological advances to enable the latest groundbreaking treatment to be delivered to patients.' One patient who has already benefitted is Rebeca Proctor, 41, from Carlisle, who was diagnosed with stage 4 non-small cell lung cancer in January. A liquid biopsy revealed she had an ALK genetic mutation, making her eligible for the targeted drug brigatinib. A traditional biopsy confirmed the result 10 days later. 'When I found out I had stage four cancer, it felt like being punched in the gut,' she said. 'I was scared—I kept thinking about my children and whether I'd get to see my little girl start nursery. 'But the medication has given me my life back. I've got my energy back, and my kids have their mum back. 'I know I won't be cured, but the treatment is keeping the cancer from spreading. We're taking it day by day and fighting whatever comes.'
The Independent
2 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
New world-first blood test to transform cancer treatment
The NHS in England is rolling out a new blood test (liquid biopsy) for lung cancer patients to speed up access to targeted treatments and avoid unnecessary biopsies, benefiting approximately 15,000 patients annually. The liquid biopsy detects tumour DNA mutations from a blood sample, allowing for faster access to therapies tailored to the genetic profile of the disease; a pilot scheme showed treatment decisions were made 16 days faster compared to tissue biopsies. The NHS will also use the test for breast cancer patients to check for a wider range of genetic variants, potentially benefiting 5,000 women a year, and is exploring its use for other cancers like pancreatic and gallbladder cancer. Professor Peter Johnson, NHS national clinical director for cancer, hailed liquid biopsies as ushering in a new era of personalised cancer care, while Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the new testing will "give thousands of people peace of mind". Rebeca Proctor, a stage 4 lung cancer patient, benefited from the liquid biopsy by receiving targeted treatment (brigatinib) after it revealed an ALK genetic mutation, giving her "her life back".
Sky News
3 days ago
- Health
- Sky News
New blood test to 'revolutionise' NHS cancer treatment
A new ultra-sensitive blood test which can detect tiny fragments of tumour DNA could be "revolutionary" for NHS patients. Thousands of patients will be offered liquid biopsies, which can help fast-track lung cancer patients to receive targeted treatments. Tissue biopsies are used to confirm a diagnosis of lung cancer and samples can be sent for genomic testing. But liquid biopsies allow for results much faster, and can show patients if they have mutations. Rebeca Proctor, 41, was treated a suspected chest infection last December. After she began coughing up blood, she was diagnosed with stage four cancer - which she called a "punch to the gut". "I was scared - I just thought about my children, and if I would get to see my little girl start nursery, and how I would explain my diagnosis to my children - it was just heartbreaking to think about," the mother of four from Carlisle said. A liquid biopsy showed she had an ALK genetic mutation of her non-small-cell lung cancer. A tissue biopsy took ten days longer to confirm the same result, but in the meantime she could begin a targeted treatment. New medication has "given me my life back", she says. "I'm taking it day-by-day and for now the treatment is doing what it's meant to be doing and shrinking the tumour, and I've got my energy back," she said. "I know I'm not going to be cured but I've come to terms with my diagnosis and the pills are stopping my cancer cells from spreading - we'll keep fighting this and dealing with what's been thrown at us." Breast and lung cancers are two of the most common in England - around 90,000 people are diagnosed with one of them each year. Potential to 'scan' the body in a single blood test NHS England will become the first health service in the world to roll-out a "blood-test first" approach to diagnosing lung cancer, and it follows a successful pilot of the testing last year. Up to 15,000 patients could benefit. The NHS has also said it is expanding testing in advanced breast cancer, with several genetic variations now being screened for. It could save the health service up to £11m per year in lung cancer care. Professor Peter Johnson, NHS national clinical director for cancer, said it would enable patients to receive "more targeted and kinder care", as it would enable some to avoid more intensive treatments - such as chemotherapy - in place of a more targeted approach. "Liquid biopsies are leading us into a new era of personalised cancer care and it's fantastic that we are now able to expand the use of this revolutionary test on the NHS to help tailor treatment for thousands of patients across the country," he said. Liquid biopsies, he added, have the potential to "scan" the body in a single blood test. Professor Dame Sue Hill, Chief Scientific Officer for England, said: "This testing is transforming care and helping clinicians match patients earlier especially when cancer tissue may not be available with potentially life-extending targeted therapies rapidly and with greater precision." The health secretary called it an "incredibly exciting new test" that could save countless lives. "It is just the latest example of this government combining the compassionate care of our National Health Service with the ingenuity of Britain's leading scientific minds to revolutionise cancer care," Wes Streeting said.
