Breast cancer test means fewer women will need chemotherapy in future, researchers say
Breakthrough findings were announced at the world's largest meeting of cancer doctors in Chicago
THOUSANDS of women suffering the most common type of breast cancer can now be spared the "agony" of toxic chemotherapy, researchers say.
UK practice will change today, according to cancer doctors, thanks to breakthrough genetic testing.
The findings suggest about 70% of sufferers could be treated safely with surgery and hormone therapy.
The news affects 3,000 women a year in Britain.
It means the cancer patients can avoid the risks of hair loss, infertility, chronic pain, fatigue and even death that comes with chemo treatment.
Chemotherapy is commonly used after surgery to reduce the chance of tumours coming back or spreading.
But harmful side-effects of the life saving toxic drugs range from vomiting to permanent nerve pain and can even lead to heart failure and leukaemia.
This groundbreaking trial of 10,273 women was one of the first to use a patient's genetics to test personalised treatment.
It offers hope for the large number of women currently getting intermediate results in existing tests, meaning they're unclear about choosing chemo.
Results presented at the world's biggest meeting of cancer doctors and scientists in Chicago shows these women have the same survival rates with or without chemotherapy.
Announcing the findings of the largest ever treatment trial for breast cancer, the US authors of the study declared: "The days of uncertainty are over."
Around 55,000 women a year are diagnosed with breast cancer in the UK, of which 23,000 have this most common type.
Experts found only women with a high genetic risk of their cancer returning got any benefit from chemotherapy.
Others had the same life expectancy and lived just as long in remission whether they had chemotherapy or not.
Doctors can identify the “high risk” patients by testing their tumour once it has been surgically removed.
The test, named Oncotype DX, is already used by the NHS and costs £2,580 a time, versus £4,500 for chemotherapy.
Charities and researchers hailed the findings, agreeing it would immediately change doctors' decision making.
Rachel Rawson, from the charity Breast Cancer Care, said: "Every day, women with certain types of breast cancer face the terrible dilemma of whether or not to have the treatment, without hard facts about the benefit for them.
"This life-changing breakthrough is absolutely wonderful news as it could liberate thousands of women from the agony of chemotherapy."
The findings were published in the New England Journal of Medicine and presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology's annual meeting.
Dr Harold Burnstein, of the society, said: "This study will transform care immediately, and for the better."
Dr Alistair Ring, a consultant at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London, said: "It is about avoiding a treatment which, for most people diagnosed with cancer, is what they fear.
"On Monday [today], when I’m in my clinic, I will offer less chemotherapy that will not be of benefit to patients.
"And it is very reassuring to know that when I am offering patients chemotherapy they are likely to benefit from it."
MORE ON BREAST CANCER
The study strictly relates to early stage breast cancers.
The test is done on a sample of the tumour after it is removed during surgery.
It assesses the activity levels of 21 genes, which indicate how aggressive the cancer is and its likelihood of spreading it returning.
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