Researchers from the Biomedical Research Institute of Malaga and the Nanomedicine Platform (IBIMA Plataforma BIONAND) have developed a novel methodology for the early detection of breast cancer through a single blood sample.
This new non-invasive method consists of analysis of ADN by massive sequencing, which allows the detection of the presence of DNA released by tumor cells into the blood.
The project, which has the support of the Unicaja Foundation, the Regional Ministry of Health and Consumption, the Roche-Andalusia Alliance and the Spanish Association Against Cancer, has been led by the researcher Iñaki Comino-Méndez and coordinated by Emilio Alba, head of service of the Intercentre Oncology Clinical Management Unit of the Regional de Málaga and Virgen de la Victoria university hospitals.
Iñaki Comino-Méndez explains that using this nueva technology Blood samples have been analyzed, prior to any medical intervention, from 75 patients who presented mammograms with indications of suffering from breast cancer.
The results show that “the fact of presenting a detectable tumor mutation in the blood means that this woman has an 86% probability of having a breast tumor”.
This type of diagnostic methodology has multiple advantagessuch as allowing more information about the cancer to be obtained than through a conventional breast biopsy of a single part of the tumor.
The researcher highlights that “it is a very powerful tool for the detection of tumors in asymptomatic individuals and key in the choice of therapy more suitable to every patient.”
In addition, he adds, “it will be very important for patients thanks to its capacity for early detection of the disease and its consequent early treatment.”
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide. Mammograms allow early detection programs to be carried out, and only when abnormal images are detected is a breast biopsy performed.
This new diagnostic method, called a liquid biopsyis an alternative to current methods, lower risk and more effective For the patients, the researchers responsible for the project stand out, who are members of the Cancer Network Biomedical Research Center (CIBERONC), belonging to the Carlos III Health Institute (ISCIII).
Iñaki Comino-Méndez has the support of the 2019 and 2020 Carmen Lavigne Award, in addition to the 2019 Postdoctoral Grant, all of them through the Spanish Association Against Cancer.
Emilio Alba is also a professor at the University of Malaga, scientific director of the Center for Medical and Sanitary Research (CIMES) and researcher in charge of the group ‘CIMO 1. Clinical and translational research in cancer’ of IBIMA Plataforma BIONAND.
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