Blood test could give early warning of breast cancer

Scientists identify molecular 'switch' whose presence in blood can predict likelihood of non-inherited disease Widschwendter, from University College London, said: "We identified an epigenetic signature in women with a mutated BRCA1 gene that was linked to increased cancer risk and lower survival rates. Advertisement "Surprisingly, we found the same signature in large cohorts of women without the BRCA1 mutation and it was able to predict breast cancer risk several years before diagnosis. "The data is encouraging since it shows the potential of a blood-based epigenetic test to identify breast cancer risk in women without known predisposing genetic mutations." Dr Matthew Lam, senior research officer at the charity Breakthrough Breast Cancer, described the findings as "definitely promising". He added: "This could mean that in the future a woman may be able to have a simple blood test to look for this DNA signature, and therefore know if she is at a higher risk of developing breast cancer. "If she does have this signature, she could then work with her doctor to explore the options available to help her take control of her own risk. "These could include lifestyle changes, tailored breast screening, risk-reducing drugs or surgery." What proportion of women at increased risk of breast cancer have the epigenetic marker is unknown, but the fact that it is not confined to those carrying BRCA 1 is significant. "DNA signatures such as this have the potential to add an extra layer of accuracy in the way we are able to assess a woman's individual risk of breast cancer and we are eager to learn more in this area," Dr Lam said. The scientists analysed blood sample DNA from 119 postmenopausal women who went on to develop breast cancer over a period of up to 12 years, and 122 who remained cancer-free. Their results appear in the online journal Genome Medicine.