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Scientists at the Russian Sechenov Medical University have developed a new blood test that may help in the early detection of breast cancer, after initial trials showed its ability to detect a high percentage of cases.
The study included 135 women, 55 of whom were diagnosed with breast cancer, as researchers measured the levels of five proteins in the blood associated with inflammation, angiogenesis, and tumor growth: osteopontin, soluble VEGFR2, neuropilin-1, suPAR, and tenascin-C.
Based on these biomarkers, the researchers developed a system to assess the risk of the disease, the results of which showed an ability to detect 96.4% of breast cancer cases within the studied sample, although it also yielded false-positive results in some healthy women.
Osteopontin protein emerged as one of the most important indicators in the test, given its role in inflammation processes and the spread of cancer cells. Scientists are also investigating the possibility of targeting this protein in the future as part of developing new anti-cancer treatments.
The researchers believe that the test may contribute in the future to identifying women who need additional examinations, but the study was conducted on a limited sample, which calls for further research to verify its accuracy and effectiveness.
The researchers emphasized that the test cannot currently replace mammography, which is the standard in breast cancer screening programs.
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