A genomic test developed by researchers could help spare millions of women from unnecessary chemotherapy.
Findings from an international clinical trial show that many patients can safely forgo the treatment without increasing the risk of their cancer returning.The first step for the treatment of breast cancer involves surgically removing tumours.
Doctors recommend chemotherapy when they believe there is a risk of recurrence.The Optima trial, led by University College London, followed more than 4,000 patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer in the UK, Norway, Sweden, Australia, New Zealand and Thailand.
For health systems, it represents a more efficient and evidence-based use of resources.The trial involved 4,429 women aged 40 and above with hormone-positive breast cancer and divided them into two treatment groups.
Patients in the standard care group received chemotherapy followed by hormone therapy, while those in the second group underwent genomic testing of their tumours.Based on the test results, patients with a high-risk score were treated with both chemotherapy and hormone therapy, whereas those with a low-risk score received hormone therapy alone.
A genomic test developed by researchers could help spare millions of women from unnecessary chemotherapy. Findings from an international clinical trial show that many patients can safely forgo the treatment without increasing the risk of their cancer returning.The first step for the treatment of breast cancer involves surgically removing tumours. Doctors recommend chemotherapy when they believe there is a risk of recurrence.The Optima trial, led by University College London, followed more than 4,000 patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer in the UK, Norway, Sweden, Australia, New Zealand and Thailand. Its findings showed that those with a low score on the genomic test could be treated safely with hormone therapy alone.According to Professor Rob Stein, the trial’s chief investigator and a professor of breast oncology at UCL, the trial has successfully used tumour biology to guide decisions rather than relying solely on traditional clinical features.Millions of patients will be spared the physical and emotional burden of chemotherapy and its potential long-term side effects. For health systems, it represents a more efficient and evidence-based use of resources.The trial involved 4,429 women aged 40 and above with hormone-positive breast cancer and divided them into two treatment groups. Patients in the standard care group received chemotherapy followed by hormone therapy, while those in the second group underwent genomic testing of their tumours.Based on the test results, patients with a high-risk score were treated with both chemotherapy and hormone therapy, whereas those with a low-risk score received hormone therapy alone. Radiotherapy and other standard treatments were administered as required in both groups.The findings showed that outcomes in the second group were nearly identical regardless of whether chemotherapy was used. After five years, 95% of patients who received both chemotherapy and hormone therapy were alive without cancer recurrence, compared with 94% of those who avoided chemotherapy and remained recurrence-free.The results suggest that for those with low test scores, chemotherapy offered little or no additional benefit, meaning patients could safely avoid it and its side effects.The findings are set to be presented on Saturday at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in Chicago, the world’s largest cancer conference.
