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Researchers develop more accurate breast cancer test

Category: Breast

Given the fact that breast cancer is most treatable in its early stages, detecting it quickly is vitally important. Now, a team of researchers from Arizona State University may have developed a new, more effective breast cancer test that may be able to detect the disease earlier.

In more than half of the women who are diagnosed with breast cancer, the disease is spotted in stage II or III. There is currently no cure or effective therapy available for this late-stage illness. Early detection is of the utmost importance.

The researchers believe that they may have discovered biomarkers that are associated with early-stage breast cancer which can be detected using simple blood testing. In conjunction with traditional screening measures, this could improve a doctor's ability to diagnose the disease early.

"Our hope is to combine a new type of blood test with mammography screening to aid in the early detection of breast cancer," said Joshua LaBaer, who led development of the new testing method.

In addition to early detection, LaBaer said the new blood test will help doctors distinguish between benign and invasive breast cancer.