The Eve Appeal are excited to announce major developments in the early detection of both breast and ovarian cancer, following the publication of two separate studies today by our team of researchers at University College London in the scientific journal Genome Medicine.
Led by Professor Martin Widschwendter, the research team found a new indicator in bloods which could be used to diagnose fatal breast cancer up to one year ahead of current methods. They found a region of DNA called EFC #93 which showed abnormal patterns of DNA methylation – a process used by cells to control gene behaviour – within breast cancer samples. Importantly, these patterns are present in bloods before the cancer becomes detectable in the breast.
They analysed the DNA methylation in blood samples from 419 breast cancer patients taken at two points: after surgery (before the start of chemotherapy), and after the completion of chemotherapy.
Additional analysis of blood samples of 925 healthy women was undertaken during the research phase, with 229 of whom went on to developed fatal, and 231 of whom went on to develop non-fatal breast cancers within the first three years following the donation of samples. The study identified that 43% of women who took part went on to be diagnosed with fatal breast cancer within 3-6 months, and a further 25% of women within 6-12 months.
Professor Martin Widschwendter, the lead Principal Investigator on study, commenting on the results, said: “Our research has demonstrated an important step forward to using cell-free DNA as a marker to detect breast cancer much earlier in the process. Subject to further studies, we feel that this is a very promising way of avoiding issues around misdiagnosis or over-diagnosis (tumours which are detected, but wouldn’t have caused clinical symptoms) in the future. Importantly, our test – subject to further studies – might have a real potential to diagnose in particular those cancers which, once diagnosed early, would not eventually lead to death anymore.”
Professor Widschwendter and his team have also made real progress into the early detection of ovarian cancer – with the study highlighting the potential to detect cases of ovarian cancer up two years in advance of a diagnosis and leading to advancements in personalised ovarian cancer treatments.
There has been very little change in the past 40 years in terms of progress on the early detection of ovarian cancer – yet the researchers discovered 3 DNA methylation markers, which could potentially identify 57.9% of women with ovarian cancers two years in advance of their diagnosis. In order to achieve this, the research team analysed 699 cancerous and non-cancerous tissues and a further 648 blood serum samples with a view to discovering the most specific ovarian cancer DNA methylation patterns.
The combination of gathering and monitoring data about research participants’ through a simple blood test to measure their CA125 levels (a protein) which is often elevated in those with ovarian cancer. This data was collected over a prolonged period of time, and along with cell-free DNA methylation markers, will likely detect a large proportion of ovarian cancers at early stage in the future.
Professor Widschwendter, discussing the impact of the results, said: “Whilst our results are very positive in terms of detecting ovarian cancer earlier in advance of a clinical diagnosis, a cell-free DNA based test will have to overcome several hurdles before it can be implemented in a clinical environment. We remain very hopeful to make significant progress in this field for the women of the future who may be at risk of developing ovarian cancer.”
These two research papers really do show the progress we’re making in terms of early detection of these women-specific cancers – and we will continue to update you all on further developments of these research programmes in the near future.
To find our more about our current research programmes, or about our researchers themselves, please click here.