Muyabia Labony ; Health Desk – A team of international researchers has brought a wave of hope for millions of breast cancer patients worldwide, suggesting they may safely bypass the grueling ordeal of chemotherapy.
According to the scientists, a newly utilized DNA test can accurately predict which patients will genuinely benefit from chemotherapy and which will not.
The landmark study was led by University College London (UCL) and reported extensively by the BBC.
Groundbreaking International Study
The clinical trial involved more than 4,000 patients diagnosed with breast cancer across several countries, including the UK, Norway, Sweden, Australia, New Zealand, and Thailand. All participants were over the age of 40.
The findings revealed that more than two-thirds of the participating patients could completely avoid chemotherapy. Instead, they could be successfully treated using only hormone therapy.
Skipping chemotherapy spares patients from severe and life-altering side effects, which commonly include extreme fatigue, nausea, hair loss, fertility issues, and a significantly weakened immune system.
How the ‘Prosigna’ Test Works
The screening method used in the study is called the “Prosigna” test. It analyzes the activity of 50 specific genes that influence how cancer spreads. The primary goal of the test is to calculate the precise statistical likelihood of the cancer returning.
Patients who scored low on the Prosigna test were deemed to have no need for chemotherapy—a group that made up two-thirds of the 4,000 participants. Within this low-score group, the five-year survival rate was a remarkable 93.7%. In comparison, the survival rate for those who did undergo chemotherapy was 94.9%, demonstrating that skipping the treatment did not significantly impact survival outcomes for low-risk patients.
Typically, the primary treatment for breast cancer involves surgical removal of the tumor, followed by chemotherapy to minimize the risk of recurrence. Doctors often prescribe it even when cancer cells have only spread to the nearby lymph nodes. However, UCL noted that oncologists have long been concerned that chemotherapy offers very little actual benefit to a large portion of breast cancer patients.
According to estimates by University College London, more than 5,000 patients currently under the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) could immediately benefit from avoiding unnecessary chemotherapy based on these findings.
A ‘Christmas Present’ for Patients
Karen Bonham, a 64-year-old resident of Cardiff who participated in the trial, described the results as a “massive relief,” comparing the news to receiving an unexpected “Christmas present.”
Thanks to the Prosigna test, Bonham was able to completely avoid chemotherapy, spending the last eight years managing her health with radiotherapy and hormone therapy instead.
Reflecting on her journey, she said, “Being diagnosed with cancer and starting treatment are both massive shocks to your system. It pushes you into a world of uncertainty. Your life priorities shift completely; your only desire is simply to survive.”
A Step Toward Personalized Medicine
The findings of this study are scheduled to be presented at the world’s largest cancer conference—the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in Chicago.
Professor Rob Stein, a breast cancer specialist at the UCL Cancer Institute who led the trial, hailed the results as a major milestone. He noted that the breakthrough represents a significant advancement in personalizing cancer treatment, as it relies on the biological characteristics of the tumor rather than just traditional clinical features.
“For patients, this means many can be spared the severe physical and emotional toll of chemotherapy, along with its long-term side effects,” Professor Stein explained. “For healthcare systems, it ensures a much more appropriate, evidence-based allocation of medical resources.”
However, UCL cautioned that it remains unproven whether the same successful results apply to breast cancer patients under the age of 40. Researchers noted that it may take several more years of tracking to reach a definitive conclusion for younger age groups.