Women who have a family history of breast cancer or who carry certain breast cancer genes have an increased risk of developing this form of cancer. More than half of these women are therefore screened annually to detect breast cancer as early as possible. This is done with mammography and MRI scans. “Mammography is often skipped in these women because the radiation does them more harm than good,” says Wilma Mesker, research leader at the Department of Surgery. “And since MRI is a time-consuming procedure, a simple blood test, which can be used more often and with a low threshold, would be a welcome addition. Also because it allows screening during pregnancy and breastfeeding.”
Blood test measures protein
Mesker and PhD student Sophie Hagenaars have currently found 6 proteins in the blood that may indicate early development of breast cancer. “For the past 10 years, we asked women who came for a regular screening appointment to also provide a blood sample,” says Mesker. And if they were diagnosed with breast cancer, the researchers also received a blood sample at the time of diagnosis. “By measuring protein levels at different times, we can identify small changes in these levels per individual that occurred 1 to 2 years before diagnosis,” Hagenaars explains. The counter now stands at 6 proteins whose changes in blood levels are likely predictive of breast cancer. These specific proteins are now being further evaluated and validated in a larger group of participants.
For the children
Mesker has been researching cancer for about 35 years. But she has not often encountered such a dedicated patient group as for the TESTBREAST trial. “The women we approach are very benevolent. Despite the fact that we only invite them to donate blood twice a year in Leiden, there are many women who voluntarily come 4 times a year,” says Mesker. “They are very driven to advance breast cancer research, even though they may not benefit from the result themselves, they are doing it for their children.”
World news
The fact that the blood test is a desirable new screening tool is also apparent from the media attention it generated at the end of last year following a presentation by Hagenaars at the European breast cancer conference in Barcelona. “It really exploded then. From Brazil to America, we were in the newspapers everywhere,” says Mesker. So expectations are high. But a lot of work is still needed to bring this test to the patient, the researchers point out. Mesker and Hagenaars are currently analyzing all data from the past ten years. “We then hope to have a complete picture of the proteins that we need to include in our blood test,” says Hagenaars. “Then we are one step closer to earlier detection and better treatment of breast cancer in women at risk.”